Blaq Sav. Photos by Lillian MK Photography. Favorite Free Verse Spoken Word 2026 Ashley Hosa Sending out a big congrats to Ashley Hosa, who came to the Spoken Awards with a multitude of wonderful supporters (shoutout to Ryan!)....
The founder of the long-standing hipster-ish West Side restaurant Julians hadn’t been involved directly with the restaurant in quite some time. But his legacy persisted. A larger-than-life personality, you never knew at what event Julian...
Renowned supporter of local music and arts Lisa Gourley (Sometimes Lisa Gourleyx) passed away on June 15. Reading reactions on social media, you can’t help but notice how often the words “nice,” “kind,” and “photography”...
This beautiful Solstice moment, June 21, 2026 brings the winds of change into our lives. The pivotal points among the planetary movers and shakers of the Zodiac find Gemini, with Uranus and Ceres, reaching across...
By Olivia Lunger By Lillian MK Photography ...
Favorite Color Tattoo Evan Olin, Powerline Tattoo Runner-up: Luis Bold, Unicorn Ink Favorite Black & Gray Ryan Dowden, Dark Ritual Runner-up: Luis Bold, Unicorn Ink Favorite Black & Gray with Color Steven McDonough, Secret Safe Tattoo Runner-up: Rachel WS, Rachel WS Fine Art...
By Lillian MK Photography By Olivia Lunger ...
Photo by Lillian MK Photography. Favorite Free Verse Spoken Word Ashley HosaRunner-up: Jeff Daniellian Favorite Social Justice Spoken Word Erik AndradeRunner-up: Mx Asher Favorite Youth Poet Angel CruzRunner-up: (by one vote) Josselyn Wolf Favorite Poetry Event Apothica's Monthly Poetry NightRunner-up: Afroverse Favorite...
Congratulations, you survived the record-breaking Blizzard of 2026. With the anticipated arrival of clear skies and warm temps, how will you be spending your well-earned, much-needed downtime this summer? If you’re adventurous, you could explore some of...
Artwork by Bob Eggleton. Godzilla has been a cinematic icon for over 70 years. However, there are important themes around the monster that have gotten lost with international audiences. There is no gigantic monster that has had...
Tie-dye by Spun Laundry. BEACHES Atlantic Beach Park: Family beach, amusements, kiddy rides, snack bars, antique 1915 carousel, batting cages, bumper boats, go-carts, mini golf, game room, waterslides, gift shop, beachware and an ocean-view cocktail lounge. 321...
Photos by Lillian Karboski. Every time you listen to a song, there is always something more than the words or catchy melody. On Friday, May 1, right in the heart of downtown Providence, an extraordinary group...
Okee dokee folks… Rising costs of everything is what’s on my mind this month. It really should be on everyone’s mind. The main things I will talk about here are gasoline and concert tickets. One...
Photo: Christopher Mongeau. Ravi Shavi, a band that has been around since 2011 and started as a moniker for Rafay Rashid’s music project, has evolved and become more rooted in its creative approach and performance, as...
“Can I go to X?” is the question 2 Feet 2 Bucks has answered with “Yes” dozens of times, where X = place worth going out of your way to, to take a walk, short...
We sat down a few months ago with one of the organizers of RI’s Deportation Defense Line. The Defense Line’s origins are organic and multifaceted. No one person is in charge of it. No one...
Artist of the Year: Favorite Song: Favorite Music Video: NOVA ONE; "chlorine" by NOVA ONE; "chlorine" - NOVA ONE (Dir. Frankie Ferrari) nova one: “nova won!” Providence’s own nova one won (!!) four 2026 Motif Music Awards: “artist...
Photo by Matthew Murphy. The North American tour of Disney’s The Lion King last played the Providence Performing Arts Center in 2017. After nearly ten years, The Lion King is back astounding Providence for a limited...
“Judge not, that ye be not judged” (Matthew 7:1). This is the core theme behind William Shakespeare's darkest comedy, Measure for Measure, one of Shakespeare’s most exciting, underperformed and underappreciated plays, currently presented by Burbage...
Smithfield, RI: A town known for its forests, trails, ponds, and well, wealth. An unlikely location for a potential AI-Data Center, one may think. Yet, this rural community, despite data center construction being illegal under...
This is the story of visiting Providence’s newest Rotisserie and Bistro, Thermia, and being so intrigued by its menu and feeling so welcomed by the staff, that I went twice in one week! To give...
Check out extensive listings for every show we could find this season. But some are bigger or just fundamentally represent summer in our eclectic, hyperactive, tiny-yet-overachieving state. Here’s a selection of special events to keep...
“Industry wants us to believe the sky will fall if there’s reform," said Council President Rachel Miller. "But for working families, the sky is already falling..." Council President Rachel Miller (Ward 13) “In front of you is...
The eggplant piece featured on the cover of Motif is the first completed work in Chenlu Hou’s Garden series, making it a perfect fit for this issue’s theme of Summer. A low-fire terracotta sculpture, airbrushed and...
[See prior update: motifri.com/iran-war-update-01] The Iran war cannot continue as it is for much longer, and this is a result of simple math. Time is running out for energy and food supply US Consumer Price Index for All...
Voting is now closed -- Join us to see who was selected Wednesday, May 276 – 10pmMyrtle, East Providence Join us for the 4th annual Motif Spoken Awards! We are excited to be returning to Myrtle to celebrate RI’s spoken word...
Ann Morrison and Marcus Phillips in the National Tour of KIMBERLY AKIMBO. Photo by Joan Marcus KIMBERLY AKIMBO is a musical with a lot of heart, a lot of wit, and a lot of rave reviews...
Processed with VSCO with 6 preset When Steve DelMonico (vocals/guitar) approached John Faraone (drums) with an impossibly unique band name, there was no way of knowing that 10 years later they’d be sitting at Nolan’s with...
Photo: Dave Rezendes. John Faraone: a man of many bands, many instruments, and one poetic voice. While John wouldn’t call himself a poet, I certainly believe that his lyrics are simply stanzas waiting to be printed....
Photo by James Brooks. Okee dokee folks… I have referenced the Jethro Tull song, “Too Old to Rock & Roll, Too Young to Die,” A few times in my 22 years of writing for Motif, and...
Okee dokee folks… I attended the first night of a three night run of The Cher Show, a jukebox musical about the life and times of Cher, at The Boch Wang Center in Boston. Growing up with the music of Sonny and Cher, their weekly TV variety show, and having seen them in concert in […]
The Future is NOW! proclaims the marquee at Providence Performing Arts Center’s (PPAC) grand entrance where a retrofitted DMC DeLorean is parked in celebration of the 2024-2025 Broadway season reveal. Following a performance by Frozen’s Katie Mariko Murray, PPAC President and CEO J.L. “Lynn” Singleton along with Joseph W. Walsh, Esq, Chairman, PPAC Board of […]
On Dec 1, 2023, I attended the Celebration of Legalization event in Cranston hosted by Black Dragonfly Events, High Beautiful, and CRAVEInfused. The program was designed to celebrate the first full year of recreational cannabis sales in Rhode Island and promote the need to address social justice and equity issues in the Rhode Island cannabis […]
ARIES: Tons of conversations take place during this period. The Lunar Eclipse on March 25 falls in your house of relationships. The Sun moving into your sign, Aries, sheds a lot of light on the situation. Keep the conversations going. Some subjects might include the things that you value in your life. These things are […]
Wilma Hannah Briggs, also affectionately known as “Willy” or “Briggsie,” passed away on September 4, 2023 at the age of 92. Born in East Greenwich on September 4, 1930, Briggs lived an extraordinary life. In 1948, Briggs entered the American Girls Professional Baseball League and played in the league until 1954. She stood 5’4” tall […]
This month’s cover art created by Silvermoon Mars LaRose communicates a wealth of cultural and artistic information. It depicts a group of eight women gathered together and leaning into one another in a way that suggests community, support, and caring. The figures are surrounded by intricate patterns that start at their heads, flow down their […]
I’m finally on the mend after a month of pneumonia. I imagine this is what a resurrection must feel like. Meanwhile, since I last wrote another legend has left us in “Brother” Wayne Kramer of the MC5. MC5 were a revolutionary band that in the late sixties fused the guitars of the British Invasion, the […]
Elizabeth’s Portofino Tuscan Grill is a delicious gem located in a tiny Warwick strip mall. Upon entering, the welcoming atmosphere is immediately felt — Elizabeth’s is full of friendly faces and elegant lighting, which sets the mood in its three intimate and cozy dining areas, each complete with its own ambiance. When the weather’s right, […]
While putting together this issue, we spoke often about gender. In celebrating Women’s History Month, it is important to acknowledge that while we live in a patriarchal society where the material effects of misogyny and gender-based inequity are very real, the concept of gender expands beyond the binary of women and men. Enforcing the gender […]
It was the ’90s and I loved being in clubs. It was common to be among folks who had made it while I was seeing and playing shows. The Big Three (“The Godmothers” as I like to call them) were at their height — signed to major record labels, touring the country, playing on the […]
