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”...
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...
(Photo credit: Keith J.G. McCurdy, from the cover art of Vudu Sister’s Adynata; photograph of the art installation LO SGUARDO - Humanitas - Physis by sculptor Igor Mitoraj at the Neopolis Archaeological Park of Siracusa...
“What I keep hearing from so many people is that we need a healing space, and that’s what I hope to bring with Marisol,” says Emmy-award winning director Brian Mertes. Trinity Rep’s upcoming production of playwright José Rivera’s dystopian, absurdist fantasy aims for intimacy among the nightmarish scenario of a world literally at war with […]
Okee dokee folks… ‘Tis the season when things start wrapping up indoors and begin to crawl out into the sun and squint their light-deprived eyes. Our next issue will be the Summer Guide, which is a big issue of “must do” activities for the hot and heavy months of June, July and August. If you […]
First impressions are key, and our covers, like a nice shirt on an eligible bachelor, entice our readers to stay and mingle with the articles within. This issue’s cover artist is a friend of mine who showed me his art “way back” in middle school when everybody still had flip phones and MySpace. Nick Lafluer […]
The distinctions between food, drugs and medicine can be unclear and overlapping, and the lines separating them are often contrived by human institutions. One such entity is the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which is now becoming tangled up in the regulation of the CBD products that are the fastest-growing new health food craze. Industrial […]
Aries: Concerns about what’s mine, what’s yours and what’s ours has you thinking about boundaries as well. Don’t think about it as keeping you corralled, but rather as keeping folks out. You need your space and you need to make it yours and yours alone. You might get a bit aggressive about this, and that is […]
The Pushy Public Boy, the nerve of some people! Phillipe and Jorge are referring to the majority of the American public who have the audacity to demand information about perhaps the most corrupt, lying and incompetent administration in the glorious history of our great country. Pushy, pushy. Instead, we now have all of the essentials […]
The Good Luck Gateway is a semi-permanent art installation by artist Vinnie Ray that will be unveiled during this year’s PVDFest. Vinnie Ray is a street artist who uses public space to create positive energy, and The Good Luck Gateway in a variation on that theme. The installation is designed to bring good luck to […]
Once upon a time I lived in Hawaii and worked as a dolphin trainer. I made $8 an hour and could only afford to eat PB&J and canned vegetables, but I made it a point to save my money for what I considered very special treats: smoothie and acai bowls. These were my “splurges,” the […]
These multicolored and intricate angel wings sprout from the side of a brick building, begging passersby to stand in front of them and snap a selfie. This selfie wall is the latest public art project to come from The Avenue Concept. And although the nonprofit won’t reveal the mural’s exact whereabouts, they hint that it’s somewhere near […]
Pretzel purveyors The Malted Barley have announced the official (Major League Eating-sanctioned event) 2019 Malted Barley World Pretzel Eating Championship to take place on June 8 from 2-4pm as a part of PVDFest. This is the first time this event has been hosted — anywhere – and will also be the first time someone is […]
