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...
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 evidenced by...
“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,...
VOTING OPEN NOW! VOTE HERE 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 community. The live celebration,...
VOTE HERE! "May your tattoo ink never run dry," as the ancient Portlandian blessing goes, has rarely been more applicable. Motif is proud to partner again with Narragansett Brewery to bring you the RI Tattoo Awards,...
Vudu Sister – Mortis Nervosa The word “chameleon” is thrown around in music terms by critics who can’t think of anything better to say about musicians. The truth is, music is an artist trying to find their own voice, so painting X is going to be different from painting Y, just like those chromosomes. Vudu Sister’s […]
Political Roundup What is it about public office holders in Vo Dilun? This has always been a problem (as evidenced by a front-page story in The Providence Journal a few weeks back, reciting the roll call of the fallen). Whether “jammed up,” arrested or indicted, there appears to be a recent spate of public […]
Every American should have access to, and understanding of, the transformative power of the arts. Public art gives us the opportunity for both. When people work together, the possibilities are endless and rewarding. When projects begin in order to raise community morale, that nurturing can inspire trust, confidence and growth. As documented on their site, […]
Kill the Virgin clearly intends to satirize the tropes of horror movies while providing a post-modern spin on them. Unfortunately, despite some funny moments, the play proves to be an ultimately frustrating and pointless piece of work. The virgin in this story is Ali, a sexy teenager who is questioned by two detectives, Marconi […]
Trinity Repertory Company could not have produced a more spectacular show to close out its 2015-2016 season than Oklahoma!. A first-rate group of performers, under the expert guidance of directors Richard Jenkins and Sharon Jenkins (also serving as choreographer), have breathed new life into the classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical. Eugene Lee’s set resembles a […]
The Southeast New England Film, Music and Art Festival wrapped on April 23, 2016. It featured Artwork at the Warwick Museum of Art, Music at the Arctic Playhouse in West Warwick, and film screenings in East Greenwich, West Warwick and Providence, RI. For a full list of Jury and Audience Award winners please go to […]
Epic Theatre’s Company’s Total Strangers is essentially a remake of the classic Alfred Hitchcock film, Strangers on a Train. The major change writer/director Kevin Broccoli made was switching the genders of the two main characters from male to female. Beth (Kelly McCabe) takes a seat next to Georgia (Hannah Lum) on a train in New […]
For years, the primary aim of health care reform has been to make insurance affordable for everyone. The assumption was that a lack of access to medical care is behind our country’s dismal standing in overall health. But another possibility is forming like a ghostly spectre above the huddled masses yearning to be well: There’s […]
The Vietnam War-era love story Miss Saigon was given a first-rate production by Encore Repertory Company at the Stadium Theater in Woonsocket. The show ran from May 6 through 8. Sara LaFlamme gave a passionate and deeply moving performance as Kim, a young prostitute who falls in love with Chris, an American soldier stationed in […]
When spring comes around, the urge to get outside and enjoy your surroundings is contagious. You might want to go for a stroll around the neighborhood, play with your pet in a nearby park, get a pickup game of basketball going or just sit on the porch with a cold beverage and relax. On Hope […]
