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...
From tough-to-tackle subjects like school shootings to tough-to-film concepts like time-travel and space-travel, the teen filmmakers from across the state continued their tradition of making short films that are surprising, thoughtful, funny and, as a group, more impressive every year. This year’s Give Me Five showcase of RI teen-made films took place on Sunday evening, […]
Available: immediately Posted: 5/17/18 Motif is looking for a new lead designer! Required skills include Photoshop, InDesign, PrePress knowledge, some web and social media familiarity, plus an interest in arts and entertainment, energy, efficiency and good communication skills. The job is part time – 20 to 30 hours a week, depending on how much the […]
There’s a mystery afoot at The Players at Barker Playhouse and what’s keeping people buzzing around their latest musical, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, isn’t necessarily “Who Dun’ It?”, but “How Do I Get In?” According to general manager Bill Applegate, since they formally announced the Tony-Award winning musical as the closing show in their […]
SAT 19 Gloria Steinem: A conversation with one of the most noted feminists of the late 20th century. 8pm, Zeiterion Theatre, 684 Purchase St, New Bedford. zeiterion.org Fresh Catch Release Party: Gansett’s releasing a new beer, this one’s got a lobster on the can. 5pm, Captain Seaweed’s Family Pub, 162 Ives St, PVD. narragansettbeer.com Tight […]
What do you never leave home without? A musical tune to get me through the day. What’s your biggest pet peeve? Bad breath. Does anyone like it? What’s your favorite book? The Magic of Thinking Big; it goes into how you perceive things and how you can stop limiting yourself through your beliefs. What’s your […]
1. Members of the Providence Gay Men’s Chorus pose for a picture. 2. The Eastern Medicine Singers are all smiles 3. Award Winners Senior Discount 4. Our MCs John and Bettysioux 5. Cowboy and Lady perform beautifully 6. Briana White, winner of Americana Singer//Songwriter, poses for a picture 7. Hope Anchor rocking the stage 8. […]
Unscramble the names of these 2018 Motif Music Award Winners. See pages 12-21 of our Music Awards Issue for a cheat sheet. 1. rata shnane 2. show tabou lieharc 3. epho chanro 4. lamsyas robsallae 5. het sticpacoce 6. tucacs takact 7. rainab thew 8. shayirrap enequ 9. and rettimo Answers: 1. Tara Hansen, 2. How’s About Charlie, 3. Hope Anchor, 4. […]
Aries: Sudden changes in your financial situation prompt you to question past actions, and you start to second guess yourself. What is done is done. If you’ve done your homework, all will be well. At month-end, some home/career news and moves serve to brighten your future. Think about new ways to do old chores. Taurus: A […]
For nine years an event has happened in downtown Providence that has brought delight, lit imaginations and sparked curiosity in many attendees: the Providence Mini Maker Faire. It will be happening again this year on June 9 as part of PVDFest. I had the pleasure of catching up with one of the creators of this event, Brian Jepson, […]
Lowering the Bar Phillipe and Jorge were delighted to have some chinwag with our old friends US Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse at the Wild and Scenic Rivers media event last week. Both looked mahvelous, but that’s where the good news ends. Jack and Sheldon gave virtually the same sense of despondency over what […]
