Blaq Sav. Photos by Lillian MK Photography. Favorite Free Verse Spoken Word 2026 Ashley Hosa Sending out a big congrats to Ashley Hosa, who came to the Spoken Awards with a multitude of wonderful supporters (shoutout to Ryan!)....
The founder of the long-standing hipster-ish West Side restaurant Julians hadn’t been involved directly with the restaurant in quite some time. But his legacy persisted. A larger-than-life personality, you never knew at what event Julian...
Renowned supporter of local music and arts Lisa Gourley (Sometimes Lisa Gourleyx) passed away on June 15. Reading reactions on social media, you can’t help but notice how often the words “nice,” “kind,” and “photography”...
This beautiful Solstice moment, June 21, 2026 brings the winds of change into our lives. The pivotal points among the planetary movers and shakers of the Zodiac find Gemini, with Uranus and Ceres, reaching across...
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...
We sat down a few months ago with one of the organizers of RI’s Deportation Defense Line. The Defense Line’s origins are organic and multifaceted. No one person is in charge of it. No one...
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...
While PVD is far from a concrete jungle, we do have our fair share of triple-deckers and cramped quarters. Tree-lined sidewalks are in no shortage, despite what neighborhood you’re in, but that doesn’t mean that it can’t feel like a metropolitan maze sometimes. This is when we need to remind ourselves that the creative capital […]
With temperatures sinking and some flurries spotted, we’ve reached the time of year when cozying up inside becomes second nature. But what if spending a few more moments outdoors has more to offer than our shivers might suggest? Believe me, I’m in favor of staying snug — I write to you from beneath an electric […]
SARA INÁCIO, Providence artist, printmaker, and public engagement maintainer says, “I’ve been into making art for as long as I can remember – I was always the art kid growing up, and by highschool I was vending at markets and doing custom pet portraits on Etsy. Then I went to college for printmaking, and grad […]
Make it easy for people to be environmentally conscious and they will do it. Growing up in South Kingstown, composting was a staple of my childhood, and many of my friends’. I have memories of complaining as I traipsed down the hill in my backyard through the snow or in the rain to empty the […]
It’s 1993 and Nirvana walks onto the “MTV Unplugged in New York” studio set. When Cobain sat down with his signature sweater and guitar, little did the world know they were watching a dead man carve a set of initials into the infinite record of the world. Five months later Cobain committed suicide, and seven […]
Upon hearing the first line from New England folk singer Avi Jacob’s debut single with his new band Hawk in the Nest, I felt like one of those judges on “The Voice” who looks up in startled disbelief at what they’ve just heard from the unknown singer behind them. Now don’t get me wrong, it […]
Photographs line the walls of the white, empty gallery. The lights go off and footsteps fade down a long corridor. A door slows to a shut. Silence reigns in a room full of frozen faces. These faces are full of emotion, their bodies contorted in dance – expressions of a soul caught in the throes […]
What will work be like in the future? Will people be replaced by artificially intelligent robots? If that happens, what kind of work will be left for people to do? And will universal basic income be necessary for survival? The scariest part of these questions is not about potential trends in the future, but rather […]
Prepare yourself for something uniquely amazing as Wilbury Theatre Group presents NOISE, a deeply introspective new musical directed by Dante Green. NOISE, the brainchild of writer/composer César Alvarez, brings together an exemplary team of interdisciplinary musicians, actors, and creative collaborators for an exploration on what musical theater can be. NOISE Musical Feels Like a Party […]
The national tour of Hamilton is on its way to Providence, with performances starting next Wednesday on December 11 and running through Sunday, December 22 at the Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC). This will be the second return engagement of Hamilton at PPAC; the Theatre has presented the cultural phenomenon in 2019 and 2021. In […]
