AMERICAN ANATOMY AND OTHER WORK (PPOW, NYC), 2002

In American Anatomy and Other Work, Janet Olivia Henry explores the power of words, crafting them into intricate beaded lariats made from diverse materials like dolls, coins, clothes, and plastic. These lariats, hung like visual poems, evoke characters and emotions through words such as "fear," "once," and "plethora." Notably, Ana, an homage to artist Ana Mendieta, weaves together yarn, beads, horn, and clay, memorializing her tragic death. Henry’s humor and reflective nature emerge in her piece Oh Shut Up, where transparent vinyl encases snippets of personal musings, forming an unapologetic, playful statement on the gallery wall.