Publisher Mike Ryan
Mr. Ryan has been publishing Motif for almost 12 years, and wrote the film column for a number of years before that. After graduating from Portsmouth Abbey, he earned a bachelor’s in […]
Events:
The Court: Art in Play
September 24, 2025 - April 26, 2026The Flower, The Labor, and The Sea
September 27, 2025 - June 28, 2026
Executive Summary
What We Are Motif is an arts and entertainment publication in Rhode Island. Its team publishes free papers for more than 60,000 local print readers (audited), online content for another […]
One Hell of a Film at Barnaby Castle
“Let’s throw a par- … I mean, a movie,” decided Kaitlyn Frolich, head spook at Barnaby Castle. Barnaby Castle — the grandiose, gothic mansion on Broadway in Providence that has […]
Motif x RI ComicCon Cosplay Contest
Miss Comic Con? Or Halloween? Both? Or just love to cosplay? Motif to the rescue! Teaming up with RI Comic Con, which would normally happen at the beginning of November, […]
Supporting Portland: Protesters gathered in PVD Saturday night
Protesters gathered in front of the Providence Public Safety Complex on Saturday night, with law enforcement in riot gear standing a block away. One hundred and fifty mostly young people […]
Providence Tours go Viral: A monumental scavenger hunt
There is a lot of history hidden throughout Providence in plain sight. The memorials, monuments or statues you may encounter in your daily travels probably pass you by without you […]
East Providence High School Art Show
View The Live Stream The East Providence High School Art Show will live stream its opening on Providence Gallery Night, Thursday, May 21 at 7pm. There will be a link […]
East Providence High School Art Show
View The Live Stream The East Providence High School Art Show will live stream its opening on Providence Gallery Night, Thursday, May 21 at 7pm. There will be a link […]
Viral Video: Far from Perfect: Thoughts on a Global Pandemic hits the net
Lenny Schwartz and Nathan Suher wanted to make a movie fast. Because it was about the time of corona, made in the time of corona, it couldn’t be produced using […]
Car Hopping: Dine-in restaurants grapple with turning to takeout
At this point, your favorite restaurant has done one of two things. Either they’ve closed for the foreseeable future, or they’ve gone to curbside/takeout/delivery. Among those offering takeout, some are […]