Writing Prompt in Which a Bird Looks Down at What I Call My Autobiography For Lucile Clifton Hey girl! Why is everything all covered in tarps? I see the shapes of a table filled to the corners pressed against all that canvas. Cornucopias hidden flavors and sound acid and salt all tucked and stuffed and […]
Providence has a rich tapestry of the arts embedded onto its sidewalks. This is reflected in our wide selection of live theater, art galleries and local music scene. It’s even evident in publications like this, that serve to shed the spotlight on underappreciated and otherwise unknown artists active in all media and genres. Flipping through […]
There’s so much in this world that empowers women and brings women together; our shared experiences, our disdain for wired bras, our love of heating pads during our time of the month, our desire to be understood far more than we typically are, and much, much more. These shared experiences are highlighted in multiple forms […]
In celebration of Women’s History Month, I am spotlighting a culinary trailblazer who’s adding her own special flavor to Rhode Island’s food scene. On Hope Street in Providence, something extraordinary is happening. Chef Milena Pagán, the vibrant force behind Little Sister restaurant, is cooking up more than just delicious food — she’s serving heritage, independence, […]
Since March is Women’s History Month, it seemed appropriate to highlight some stellar female artists making their mark on the local music scene. Bee and The Boys Fronted by vocalist Belinda Landry, Bee and The Boys is a four-piece group who have been making their way around southern RI for the past year, playing crowd-favorite […]
One of the first articles I wrote for Motif, years ago, was a review of Heather Rigney’s debut novel, Waking the Merrow. I was immediately locked into the humorous story of Evie McFadden and Nomia, her mermaid nemesis. The Pawtuxet Village setting gave a sense of familiarity that enhanced my enjoyment. Rigney followed that up […]
In her book of ant poetry, Sawako Nakayasu, an artist and professor at Brown University, describes keeping ants close to her heart, from both metaphorical and literal perspectives. Ants have been close to my heart for years, and as we move through women’s history month, we wanted to highlight the work and legacies of some […]
Entering New Age Barbering Co. at 8 Freebody St in Newport comes with a feeling of relief that many women wish was more familiar to barbershops everywhere. Rather than walking into obnoxious chatter and intimidation, I was greeted with soft music and a cozy waiting room that immediately quelled my anxieties about entering such a […]
When I moved to San Diego, I decided to attend one of the area’s popular group rides, which typically attracted over 100 participants every Saturday. With multiple ride categories — A, B, C, D, and two developmental groups — I carefully chose the D group to avoid the pressure of keeping up while I was […]
Just about a year ago, the North Burial Ground cemetery’s most-visited gravesite was burglarized when two copper medallions were stolen from the memorial of Edward Mitchell Bannister, a prominent Black artist who resided in Providence throughout the late 1800’s. On February 27th, 2025, two community leaders and kickass women, Ulli Ryder and Victoria Gao, reignited […]