Driving up to the Silver Lining Diner, where Katherine McMahon’s paintings hang in the windows, can bring on a wave of different sensations: there is the joy of actually seeing art in person again, the cravings brought on by her paintings of syrupy pancakes, and the uneasiness evoked by her portrait of waitress Shelly Johnson from Twin Peaks, whose stare suggests that she might be possessed by some inhabiting spirit.

“One of the central tenets of my work is a desire to answer to the question of how a woman, by virtue of being a woman, makes others uncomfortable.” — Bernadette Despujols

Early March feels like the new year for art in New York City. It is a time for reflection, to consider one’s appetite for art and the onslaught of art viewing opportunities that will be presented at fairs like Independent Art Fair.

Love. Do you believe in love? Or are you like me and just trying to piece together a “loving” relationship via platonic snuggling, discounted dinners for helping your friends with errands, and other activities aimed at mutually boosting each other’s self-esteem while a fairytale love story continues to not exist in your life?

Keeping the common thread of adornment as its unifying concept, Pen and Brush presents On Adornment, a group show featuring photos, paintings, videos, and 3D sculptures.