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...
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...
Mount Pleasant. Elmhurst. The Valley Arts District. These are all neighborhoods whose offerings I thought I knew well, having worked in and around Providence over the last few years. But you can certainly miss a...
Buddy Mott. Once upon a time, if you wanted a tattoo, one of the things you could do was traipse to Newport from any of the four corners of the world and get yourself a tattoo...
The actual declaration of Independence was first proclaimed to the people of Newport from this building in July 1776. (Photo by Maureen O'Gorman) It doesn't take long for a person new to Rhode Island to find...
The RI Department of Transportation (RIDOT) announced a major initiative to repair potholes caused by a harsh winter. A new Pothole Service Requests Dashboard site on the web – https://www.dot.ri.gov/travel/potholes.php – allows the public to...
I love to drink for free. Unfortunately, it’s rare for people to buy beverages for me out of nowhere, since it always ends in really awkward conversation. But luckily, those of us looking for a less embarrassing way to subsidize our drinking can join a new program called Secret Hopper. It’s very much like secret […]
Davy is the youngest Andrade to join the business, which was founded in 1987 by his parents, David and Gigi. But after buying his own boat and rebuilding it from the floor up, he is officially his own boss. He does, however, still work at the family store a couple of days a week, selling […]
If leaves could choose a type of music to accompany their fall to the ground, they’d choose jazz. And every fall, RI accommodates their last wish with a swinging soundtrack. Newport has a good slate of music coming up. Norey’s continues its weekly Thursday night jazz series featuring a rotating cast of ensembles including the Alan Bernstein […]
Dancers are returning to rehearsal studios and fall dance productions abound. RI has a lot to offer this season, starting with Island Moving Company’s fabulous production of Second Star to the Right: A Tale of Hook and Pan. This marvelous endeavor takes place aboard the deck and rigging of the Oliver Hazard Perry Tall Ship as […]
Okee dokee folks… I would like to thank all the folks who made the fifth annual Providence Folk Festival such an amazing day — the volunteers, the performers, the sponsors (Motif being one of those!) and of course, the audience. Now let’s talk volunteers. The coffeehouse season is about to begin, and many venues operate […]
As summer comes to a close and the tourists follow the leaves north, Rhode Island theater shifts from the fun and frolic of outdoor Shakespeare and Theatre by the Sea to the full weight of the multitude of theatrical offerings that continue to amaze theatergoers in our tiny state. The Gamm has a new home […]
It’s a wild world out there for anyone attempting to produce live performances for local audiences. The cautionary tales shared in hushed tones over a cast party buffet are many. Local theater companies fueled by big personalities, a core of talented performers and unique artistic interpretations of the work still face the challenges of finding […]
Projects are dropping like leaves this fall, with a lot of artists teasing fans with singles to give them a preview of what’s to come. You’re not gonna need a sweater. Things are just heating up. With two singles out for our listening pleasure — “Swervin” and “Timing” — Cam Bells is prepping the release […]
Next week is the biggest political day in Rhody politics; the primary election. In a state long dominated by the Democratic party, primary elections become more significant than the ones in November. This year has seen established, incumbent Democrats face strong challenges from the progressive wing within their own party. Governor Gina Raimondo has unleashed […]
Anthony Russo lives in Little Compton, but his art travels well beyond our borders. It has appeared in The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Esquire and The Boston Globe, among other publications. His illustrations have graced the covers of numerous books, and his fine art is something to be admired. During our interview, Russo told me that […]
