Thomas Woodruff: The Four Temperament Variations

Thomas Woodruff Tiger Variation, Choleric, 2010-2011

Thomas Woodruff Still Life Variation, Sanguinic, 2009-2010

Thomas Woodruff Still Life Variation Melancholi 2009-2010

Thomas Woodruff Landscape Variation Phlegmatic 2010-2011

Thomas Woodruff The Dolphin Variation 2011

The Four Temperament Variations by Thomas Woodruff is currently on view at PPOW, a contemporary art gallery that never fails to deliver excellent shows.The Four Temperament Variations is inspired by humorism and/or "the four temperaments" an ancient and now discredited belief/theory that if the human body has certain excess/imbalanced and/or deficiency of fluids (blood, black bile, yellow bile and phlegm) will effect a persons personality/behavior and/or "humor." This theory was indeed wildly believed and many remedies were concocted to "cure" the humors. Thomas Woodruff's beautiful and magical enchanted world doesn't fail to impress me; one beautiful work of art after the other is like eye candy to me. I can never get tired of spotting all of his beautiful details and bizarre imaginary creatures. The show is closing soon, this ones worth a trip to the city. The Four Temperament Variations ends February 4th. - Madame J. 

Janice Pena Art Blog

Natalia Fabia: Punk Rock Rainbow Sparkle

Natalia Fabia Sparkle Party at Black & White,

Natalia Fabia Brooklyn Rainbows

Natalia Fabia Palace Amusements Jump

Natalia Fabia Party Time

Natalia Fabia's gift at hyperrealism is all too evident in her latest show,  Punk Rock Rainbow Sparkle; this is Natalia's homage to Punk, punk rock and it's sub-cultures. Oi! I just had to throw that one in sorry! Natalia is quoted "Punk rock is one of my true loves. Punk is an attitude..and that's the theme of my paintings."(Jonathan LeVine Gallery press release). Natalia's gifted talent at rendering her subjects in an "all too real" composition (I originally thought her works were photographs until I got up close) shows us her magnificent talent. Natalia uses her friends to serve as models in her works. Art Center College of Design (Pasadena) churned out a great one! If your looking to check out gutter punks, street punks and all kinds gnarly insidious punks... you won't find them here, but there are some glittery and pretty punks; her show is fantastic none-the-less. It's at Jonathan LeVine thru February 11th. -  Madame J.

Janice Pena Art Blog

Joyce Pensato: Batman Returns

Joyce Pensato Batman I, 2011

Joyce Pensato Installation (Batman Returns)

Batman Returns alright and certainly with a vengeance; I think Joyce (Pensato) cleaned out Bruce Wayne's garage, Robin's, butler Alfred, police commissioner Jim Gordon; not to mention the Joker, Penguin, Riddler, Two-Face, Poison Ivy and Catwomans houses and it's "contents". For those of you that are new to reading my blog may say "hmm sounds like an insult to Joyce" or "jeez she (Madame J) didn't like the show" but in actuality it's more about confusion than anything else. Joyce has black-and-white paintings of famous pop culture images and fictional icons on the walls. I still can't figure out the mixing of both artwork and dirty childhood toys, pictures of famous actors, milk crates, brushes and "memories" of long ago. I was totally distracted by all of the toys and I was too busy reminiscing about my own childhood to really "get it" if there really is a point to this show and "Batman Returns". There's too much "stuff" not to mention too much confusion going on; I must admit I liked the show but I don't get it. The show should have been titled "Dirty and Soiled Toys, Childhood Memories and Paintings of Fictional Characters (A La Batman)" I really liked it I was just totally confused. Somebody, anybody write and explain this show to me please... Batman Returns is on view at Friedrich Petzel thru (of all days my birthday) February 25th. - Madame J.

Yvonne Estrada: Blue

Yvonne Estrada Blue

Yvonne Estrada Blue

Yvonne Estrada Blue

Yvonne Estrada's current exhibition titled Blue is a hauntingly yet, cheerful example of delicate geometric merriment, with thought-provoking shapes, not to mention an intense labor of love (each large scale work of art takes approximately six months to a year to complete). Yvonne's inspiration is garnered from those vibrant and necessary large sheets of paper called "blueprints". The extreme brilliancy of "ultramarine" and "cobalt blue" are applied, layer by layer (which explains the latency of her works). Read a review in Chelsea Now. Yvonne Estrada's Blue is on view at Von Lintel until February 18th. - Madame J.

Janice Pena Art Blog