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...
You have a great idea for a tattoo and you’re ready to showcase your love of pizza, your dog, tiger lillies, Nintendo, your wandering spirit or your mom; preferably not all in one tattoo. So how do you get this design out of your brain and onto your body — especially if you’re planning and […]
The world is changing, and so is tattooing. Social media has made it easier than ever for artists to market themselves to vast audiences at no cost. Reality shows helped to bring tattoos into the mainstream, and advancements in technology have changed the functions of most artists’ daily operations. It has never been easier to […]
Richard Rosol wants to eliminate the phrase “tattoo regret” from our lexicon. “Tattoos can be more like a piece of jewelry that you don’t like anymore. You don’t regret buying it, you just don’t want to wear it.” Rosol is the owner and medical director of TattooMedics Skin Solutions, a PVD-based office that safely and comfortably […]
If you’re old like me, you remember a day when getting a tattoo was considered edgy, even deviant. Nowadays, tattoos are much more mainstream, and yet another means of self expression. For many, the decision is not whether to get a tattoo, but rather what and where. In RI the choices are overwhelming. From Pawtucket […]
The Isle Brewers Guild has hit the ground running in 2018, with the announcement of two new partners at their Pawtucket beer co-op. Night Shift Brewing, which has garnered a very loyal following for its award-winning beers since it launched in 2012, maximized production at their Everett, Mass, HQ last year (they contract-brewed at […]
Believe it or not, I’m a bit old fashioned. I prefer to pay with cash because it still works if the lights go out, I like cooking over a fire because grilled meat is the best thing ever, and I sometimes hunt the wily mastodon for the glory of my tribe. I also listen to the […]
In many ways, the least qualified person to assess your appearance is … you. First of all, you can check yourself from front on – but that’s only one angle. With an ambitious array of mirrors, you can see more, but you can’t really see what you look like from outside of yourself unless you […]
As Black History Month is celebrated this February, the nation honors the history and contributions of African Americans. The University of Rhode Island Alan Shawn Feinstein College of Education and Professional Studies is exhibiting an impressive show titled “Visible Cloth, Invisible Bodies – Rhode Island Textiles and Southern Slavery in the 19th Century.” Entering the […]
How many tattoos do you have? Three! What do you never leave home without? I just feel lost without my jewelry. What’s your favorite local recurring event? WaterFire, of course. What are your favorite TV shows? “Blacklist” and “Once Upon a Time” What’s your best bowling story? I used to be on a league for my […]
There is nothing more satisfying than that first crackle as you tap your spoon into the rock hard top of a crème brulee. Five simple household ingredients – cream, vanilla, salt, eggs and sugar – make up the dessert. The most important part of the recipe is extreme heat – an open flame — often […]
