Samhain is Not The Same: The origins of modern day Halloween
Halloween was a war against the dark, the dead, and the deities. In Celtic Ireland, where the tradition began, many people were druidic. They focused their worship on the spirits […]
Events:
The Flower, The Labor, and The Sea
September 27, 2025 - June 28, 2026
Mad Art: An examination of what drives artists to madness
Painters: Francisco Goya, Vincent van Gogh, Georgia O’Keeffe, Mark Rothko, Edvard Munch. Musicians: Ludwig van Beethoven, Chris Cornell, Ian Curtis, Chester Charles Bennington, Kurt Cobain. Writers: Edgar Allen Poe, Ernest […]
Still Here: Witches of New England
Is there any more iconic imagery associated with October and Halloween than the classic witch sailing through the skies atop a broom, beneath a bright full moon? Despite its tragic […]
October Diptych: Poetry
1. HER WEB It looks like a wheel of diamonds you said. My eyes moved to the corner of the porch where you had noticed the spider, bigger than any […]
The Fourth Guest: Fiction
The following is a sequel to the author’s piece, Bruja, from the last issue. I first bonded with my mysterious neighbor, Flor, over our communal care for local stray cats. […]
Open & Closed
OPEN A new, family-owned restaurant, Cielito Mexican Kitchen, opened last month. A friend and I (Motif assistant editor Mara Hagen) accidentally stumbled upon this little corner spot late one night, […]
An Artist’s Champion: Dr. Joseph A. Chazan’s vision for art in RI
There are not many who can claim to have fought for and saved lives in both medicine and the arts. Dr. Joseph A. Chazan was a rare individual, whose dedication […]
The Struggle for a Free Palestine: How animals play a pivotal role in dehumanizing rhetoric
Whether observing All Hallows’ Day, Yom Kippur, or el Día de Muertos, we have many cultural traditions associated with honoring the recently departed. Ants too, meticulously care for each other […]
PVD HAUNTS: Following the ghouls and goblins of the city
Founded as a beacon of “hope,” Providence Plantations provided refuge from religious persecution, establishing a colony where settlers could worship freely, independent from the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Today, Providence remains […]
The Night Train: Fiction
“You see that train down there?” My brother Derek said. His face was pressed against the window. “It’s a trainyard. There are tons of trains down there.” I replied, refusing […]