Christian Scott picks up the phone after a few rings; when I ask how he is, he says, “Good.” Then a pause. “Sitting on a comfy couch!” This comfy couch is far away from my Pawtucket office chair, all the way in Seattle, where the 2022 RISD graduate, illustrator, and cartoonist has recently set up […]
The door of the tiny building is already open. We set our bags by the front windows, dotted with glass baubles. Doves, pumpkins, clear cubes with suspended drops of bright blue, all glow in the evening sun. A few strides away stand the ovens from whence they came. Start to finish. Every foot of studio […]
“People act shocked when I say I’m Native American,” says Indigenous artist Quai Perry. “When you say ‘Native American,’ most people think about the Western Tribes. They think we – the Eastern Tribes – aren’t here anymore.” Perry elaborates that the story, according to the history books, is that the Europeans came, conquered, and exterminated […]
Lenin Roman’s self-portrait features him in the middle of an alien abduction, flashing a peace sign and looking unperturbed. This image alone gives you enough insight into who he is. However, he also offers a list of his likes, which span from the paranormal to, “hearing about ghost and UFO experiences, Mexican food with an […]
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 character and story. Youngs found himself seeking out the artists as much as the fictional characters when selecting his books. Once he began drawing, he […]
To meet cover artist Jack Xuandong Zhou is to rub elbows with an up-and-coming, celebrity-status, multifaceted professional. Zhou’s demeanor is as bright and shiny as his product; his humor and artwork juxtapose the balance between evil and good, dark and light. Zhou expresses, “The most memorable part is to capture the landscape of Providence in […]
COVER ARTIST Jinghong Chen’s favorite season is autumn, conjuring up fond memories of jewel-toned foliage, apples and pumpkins, colonial brick homes, and cozy nights by a fireplace hearth. “Autumn in RI just makes me think of red. It is so warm, homey, nostalgic, and connects me to my roots,” she enthuses. The vibrant color is […]
How Bob Eggleton Saved Earth from Annihilation: Whenever there was a decision to annihilate an inhabited world, there were bound to be few naysayers. However, the plan to destroy the Earth was a little less controversial. Asteroid 13562 was a candidate. The space rock was the correct size, and given its orbit, it would be […]
Throughout our 20-year history, our commitment to the local arts community has never wavered. Even today, you can open any issue of Motif Magazine and see elements of art, music, and culture on almost every page. It’s one of the things we’re most proud of as an organization. This commitment starts from the very first […]
A woman stands on the edge of a balcony overlooking the city. Blocky brick buildings squat underneath golden spires with great clocks; cobblestones wobble the edges of distinct lines, ivory grows up the alleyway, and the few distinctly new, sleek metal buildings catch the last rays of light like a gold tooth in an old […]