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...
The tattoo artist who goes by Mish, of Fall River, MA, created this month’s cover. “I got the nickname when I was younger, and it just kinda stuck,” she says. Also, it stirs a little...
On the “Weekend Update” satirical news segment on Saturday Night Live. anchor Colin Jost displayed a snapshot of an unhinged rant laced with profanity in the form of a Donald Trump post to Truth Social,...
Festival Ballet Providence artistic director MIhailo Djuric is very excited about the company’s upcoming world premiere of Romeo and Juliet. Debuting February 10 – 12 at The Vets in Providence, he calls it his “Valentine’s Day gift to the city.” Recently, I had a chance to speak with Djuric and others involved in the production […]
With an unbridled heart-on-the-sleeve aesthetic and emphatic rock ‘n’ roll songs to back it up, Japandroids have become one of those bands that can hit you with every song. The duo of guitarist and vocalist Brian King and drummer David Prowse combine to form a powerful sound that’s unrivaled by their contemporaries. The Vancouver act’s third […]
New England has become a haven for craft beer. Pawtucket alone is home to three craft breweries, with The Bucket Brewery, Crooked Current Brewery and Foolproof Brewing Company each calling the city home. With the city becoming a craft brew hub, it’s only fitting that the fifth annual Rhode Island Brew Fest took place at […]
On January 4, Rhode Island Public Radio (RIPR) announced it put up $1.5 million to purchase the FM signal of 89.3 WUMD, UMass Dartmouth’s college radio station, so that RIPR could expand its range beyond its three other FM signals: 88.1, 91.5 and 102.7. This move will hurt local bands from Southern New England by […]
At first glance, the plot of Edward Albee’s play Seascape sounds absolutely ridiculous: “On a deserted beach, a middle-aged couple encounter two ‘humanesque’ sea creatures contemplating the evolutionary leap to dry land.” Middle-aged couple captured mid-squabble about their life choices? Sure, sure, we’ve all seen Albee’s masterpiece Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? A duo […]
Click here to Vote! Now till Feb 9th, Winner will be announced in the Tattoo Issue – on streets 2/16.
The day after the election, a post-apocalyptic silence fell upon my college campus. Hushed conversations could be heard around the dining hall with mentions of Florida and Ohio and fear. My only class of the day was cut short. That evening, I sought refuge in the feminist association’s weekly meeting. I wrote. I found comfort […]
With the changing of the guard in America’s political arena, the future of our health care is in limbo. Trump’s election has thrown us a wild card. It remains to be seen how that card will be played, but let’s take a look at the game. Trump has declared war on the Affordable Care Act. […]
It’s a brand new year, so obviously the garage rock genius Ty Segall is going to be putting out a new album to melt everyone’s face off. His ninth solo release due out on January 27, among a total discography that consists of over 30 recordings, is self-titled and it goes back to his roots. […]
For almost two years, As220’s new creative director, Shey Rivera, has been the curator of a quarterly event called “Luna Loba.” Centered around the subthemes of transformation, hunt, shamanism and the wild and wilderness, LUNA LOBA focuses on the work of female and gender neutral artists. I have seen anywhere from six to 12 artists stretch […]
