At the 2024 Spoken Word Awards, hosts Chip Doug and Anjel Newmann ushered in a night of storytelling, poetry, comedy, and more by welcoming nominees and spectators alike. Doug is a host, entrepreneur, local personality, and a Motif contributor (check out his most recent article about The Fitness Sanctuary). Anjel Newmann is an […]
Photo from Gather Glass, gatherglass.com There’s something mesmerizing about watching a glassblower at work. The way they shape the molten glass, spinning and blowing it into delicate works of art before your eyes. It’s like witnessing a form of alchemy, transforming ordinary materials into something extraordinary through an ancient process. The origins of glassblowing can […]
As a recent college graduate who is always looking to save a pretty penny, I’m frequently looking for budget-friendly things to do. I was in luck this month, as Gallery Night Providence started back up with its free guided tours. On the third Thursday of every month from March to November, Gallery Night Providence offers […]
In the dynamic tapestry of hip-hop and cultural influence, one name shines brightly: Jon Hope. A multifaceted force hailing from the streets of Providence, this multimedia personality has woven together a remarkable career as a lyricist, performer, host, educator, mentor, and keynote speaker. Hope’s journey is a testament to the transformative power of authenticity and […]
“Through my work, I can create this cultural connection with nature and the places around us,” says this month’s cover artist May Babcock. Babcock forages for inspiration and raw materials where land meets sea. On windswept shores, she wades through tidal pools and combs beaches, gathering cast-off treasures brought in with each alternating rush of […]
A small building tucked into a rainy day. The ocean hums quietly in the distance, a small, warm light glows steadily from the windows. On the corner of Hall and Van Zandt Ave in Newport, Overlap Gallery is a small, modernist gallery full of surprises. The artists featured in this month’s exhibit “Counterpoint” are Rhode […]
With 384 miles of shoreline, buoys are plentiful in the Ocean State. Buoys are anchored floats strategically perched above shoals or near hazard-prone coastline to help steer sailors. First bobbing to the surface in the thirteenth century as moored rafts or tethered barrels and casks near the Iberian Peninsula, buoys expanded to aid in seafaring […]
There exists a house, off Broadway, that rises from a grass courtyard like a colonial bull. It is eggshell white, and its three stories slope and curve with jagged edges and antique designs. Fog hangs around its spires. From the street, the windows peek out like eyeballs. A swath of fabric roams across one window. […]
Susan Clausen has been a presence in the Providence art scene since 1985 but it wasn’t until 2021 that I first glimpsed her work through the half open door of her studio. I was on assignment to interview her husband, well-known artist Umberto Crenca, and I was intrigued by this unexpected find. Why hadn’t I […]
Our state is home to a unique and inspiring institution, the Tomaquag Indigenous Museum in Exeter. The museum is led by executive director Lorén M. Spears, an artist and author with a background in education. Spears is an enrolled Narragansett Tribal Nation citizen. Tomaquag is the only museum in Rhode Island entirely dedicated to telling […]