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...
THU 20 Movies on the Block: Bring a picnic for a showing of the film Lost Highway under the stars. Grant’s Block, 260 Westminster St, PVD. moviesontheblock.com FRI 21 Downtown Paddle: Paddle on the Woonasquatucket River to discover the beauty of Providence in an urban-meets-nature experience. 6pm. South Water Street Landing, South Water St, PVD. […]
Dear C, My 19 year old daughter isn’t really into school. She sees no reason for it and is attending only because I made it a condition of staying home rent free. Recently, through her online social media account, she met a 35-year-old man from across the country and after two months she thinks she […]
Bring It On: The Musical is a high-spirited show about rival cheerleading squads. The show, which featured a talented cast of young performers, was performed at the Stadium Theatre July 14 through the 16th. Marissa Carlin was spunky and likable as star cheerleader Campbell, who leads the squad at Truman High School. Campbell has everything […]
The smash Disney musical Beauty And The Beast will charm audiences at Theatre By The Sea (TBTS) beginning July 19. The Broadway production was nominated for nine 1994 Tony Awards, including Best Musical and won London’s Olivier Award for Best Musical, and it is the tenth longest running show in Broadway history. The score, […]
As 2nd Story Theatre closes in on the final weekend of its charming, melancholic take on Truman Capote’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s (by way of Richard Greenberg’s taut adaptation of the original novella), a transformation is taking place. Upstairs, Holly Golightly is sweetly fast-talking her way into our hearts, while, in the basement, the bones of […]
I spoke with Phil Ehart, drummer and manager of the band Kansas about the band and their upcoming show on July 27th at the Stadium Theatre in Woonsocket. Phil Ehart: Hi, this is Phil… John Fuzek: Hi, this is John from Motif Magazine, how are you? Phil: I’m well, John, thank you, how are you? JF: Thanks […]
The Newport Folk Festival is arguably one of the most important American music festivals ever. Founder George Wein, with the help and guidance of many notable figures, including legends Pete Seeger and Alan Lomax, created more than just a festival full of money-spending crowds watching a gathering of musicians. They created a movement, a community, […]
I approached last year’s FringePVD a little bit differently than usual. Normally organizing and planning what I’d like to see, last year I decided to simply head to an evening location and let the tides of fate carry me where they would. I’m not sure it’s the best way to attack a festival – as […]
Looking to experience the inside of a brain, have a drink with Jesus, hang out with an AI in a post-apocalyptic world, become trapped in Vogue magazine advertisement, attend a kid’s birthday party and see a metal opera, all in a period of five days? Probably not, as the possibility likely never crossed your mind. Such […]
Big Dick(head) Contest Phillipe and Jorge always enjoy seeing to what degree the General Assembly is going to disgrace itself before they adjourn, which always precedes July 4 because everyone at Halitosis Hall has family vacation plans that cannot be intruded upon by such trivialities as properly serving the Great Unwashed who elected them. This year […]
