On The Cover: Pablo Youngs
Comic books were Pablo Youngs’ first introduction to art. Youngs and his brothers grew up reading superhero comics. He was particularly fascinated when he learned that different artists designed each […]
Events:
The Flower, The Labor, and The Sea
September 27, 2025 - June 28, 2026
How One Cultural Moment Inspired a Musical: The story behind One Providence Place: A Mall Musical
Great art often imitates life. It forces us to peel back the layers of our society and finally experience the raw emotions left out of the history books. When done […]
Old Girlfriends, Pink Floyd & Chris Capaldi
On August 1, I sat at the bar in a sold-out Blue Room (Cranston live music venue) and noticed the comfort, joy, and heartache Chris Capaldi’s music can bring to […]
Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night: Goodbye, old friend
We here at Motif have some sad news to report: The eight-legged arachnid who stood (crawled) careful guard over the patrons of Warwick Library has finally curled into her final […]
When The Kids Leave Home
When kids leave home, it is a significant transition not only for the ones who are going – but also for the ones left behind. Since I have seen several […]
Major Issues: What was your major? How has it influenced your life?
Bobby Forand: I never had a career path in mind. I guess I’ve never been all that organized. I didn’t plan ahead, even though I always told myself I should. […]
Learning Never Retires: Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at the University of Rhode Island is part of a network of 125 OLLIs that span all 50 states and the District of Columbia. […]
Go Without Your Phone: Perspectives on life from a full-time fish-mongerer
I’m not old, but I’m also not young. I look 18 sometimes but feel 62. I’m 31. For half my life, I didn’t have a phone. I never thought I […]
Lenses: A lesson on perception
Students take on many different lenses. After I graduated, I found this to be true in life. Sitting in class, students can become consumed by questions: Does my professor like […]
Are Libraries a Dying Breed?: A conversation with Rhode Island’s oldest library, and RI’s young students
Between paper-bound streets, a young man sits at a small desk. Around him are amassed towers of books, each title like a glowing yellow window in an elusive night. The […]