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 once read a story in which the author noted that “firsts” are always known, marked, and photographed, like our first steps. Our lasts, however, often are given no ceremony or recognition until they have passed and exist only a memory. Ever since I read that, I’ve been acutely aware of noticing lasts, and […]
Despite the illustrious histories of both the Newport Jazz and Folk Festivals, there was for many years something missing. A bridge between them! So, in 2008, Newport’s BridgeFest was born. The Newport-centric event provides a variety of music throughout Newport County that links the two iconic events. Originated by Newport’s Arts and Cultural Alliance, it […]
It is not news that celebrity sells, and famous folk have been using their fame to sell us products for ages. It is only recently, however, that stars have been getting involved in the nascent cannabis industry as investors, entrepreneurs and advocates. There seem to be more celebrity canna-brands popping up every day, and here […]
For the next brew in my infinity part series of RI beers, I decided to go simple, light, summery and crisp. I wanted something that would help remove the sweat from my brow and manifest its own droplets on the side of the container. Something basic, but still flavorful, local (of course) and resplendent with […]
The Same Old Cavalry Let me present you with two scenarios concerning land rights, and then you can let us know which you decide has more merit. In the first, the protagonists are ranchers who commit arson and force a 41-day standoff on a national wildlife refuge because they refuse to acknowledge the refuge’s right to […]
For millennia, the Mashpee Wampanoag held their annual summer powwow in a wooded glade on the southern tip of Cape Cod. But in recent years, the celebration was held on non-tribal lands as the Wampanoag fought for official recognition as a sovereign indigenous nation and the right to have their own reservation. Progress was made […]
As far as festivals go, Rhode Island, in general, and Providence, in particular, has more than its share. Several of them focus on the Performing Arts, including AS2220’s FooFest and the City’s PVDFest, which both feature live performances, but The Providence Fringe Festival (better known as FRINGEPVD), focuses on theatrical presentation, traditional and devised and […]
Aries: Your search for a creative outlet is assisted by a helpful friend and/or a congenial co-worker. This is all part of the process whereby you endeavor to be and express who you really are. There is a strong possibility of a job change or a change in your life’s direction. You want to have some […]
It was just after 2pm on a sweltering and downright gorgeous summer day in Providence’s India Point Park. The 43rd annual Cape Verdean Independence Festival had just opened its gates to the public, and my wife and I were among the few hundred or so early arrivals, wandering through a handful sponsor tents, perusing the […]
A spectre looms over the RI Democratic Party right now that might have the establishment trembling — the spectre of progressive women. If you follow local primary politics or Rhody Twitter, you know the state party set its hair on fire during its recent endorsement controversy. Its infamous gravitational center was Michael Earnheart, an ex-Republican and pro-Trump […]
