janet e. dandridge

Follow These Rules: Periodic Table of Beauty examines the incessant propagation of unattainable beauty standards that lead to self-hate, anorexia, and suicide. Utilizing the Periodic Table of Elements as a reference, this work illustrates the colorism, class divisions and bigotry that coerce women into living two lives simultaneously – the private freedom and the public mask.

Margaret Washington, a recurring character in janet's work, is a young woman living in New York City who is having trouble finding gainful employment until she receives an offer to work for The Colonial Group as a Beauty Consultant. Margaret accepts the offer, only to find that the job requires her to be the exact opposite of who she is physically and vocally as well as morally and ethically. She finds herself in a position that pays the bills and gives her disposable income but is simultaneously killing her Spirit.

janet e. dandridge is an Interdisciplinary Artivist who encourages awareness and discourse around, as well as solutions to, ideologies that perpetuate injustice. janet intersplices theatrical performance, photography, empirical data, identity politics and whimsy into a keen reflection on social constructs and governing policies. Primarily using performance art, interactive installations, and abstract photography, janet examines trauma and resilience, geometric therapy, normalized racism, Otherness, and the power of Black women. As an example of her work, in Amendment: Knell of a Nation (AKN), janet uses her body as a beacon of strength to physically remove the dehumanizing and marginalizing weight of greed embedded in the symbolism of the American flag. Spirituality, the personal empirical, and collective actions are key components that guide janet in her creations.

Visit the artist’s website: https://www.janetedandridge.com/