Tacoma Arts in Review: Ceramist Heather Cornelius at Pacific Lutheran University's Gallery

Selected works by Heather Cornelius
_{Images Courtesy of Pacific Lutheran University}

At Pacific Lutheran University, steady streams of students weave through the University Gallery between classes to see the current solo exhibition of 2007 alumna Heather Cornelius. Cornelius’s ceramic sculptures transport the viewer to the artist’s own Land of Oz — a place where familiar faces are transformed into fantastical creatures that accompany the protagonist along the road to self revelation. Much like Dorothy’s simple insistence that “there’s no place like home,” Cornelius uses existing idioms to title her works. This device grants us access and helps us to relate to the lessons she’s learned, which are visually encoded into her own personal mythology.

Cornelius, who keeps a notebook at her bedside, turns to dream imagery to tease out the intricacies and challenges of her relationships. After looking at a photograph of her mother in a high-necked wedding gown, Cornelius dreamed the half-swan, half-woman shown in Like Mother (2010). Cornelius imbued the swan head with grace, but created a sinister juxtaposition in the grotesque featherless wings – suggesting the complexity of her mother-daughter relationship. On the other side of the gallery is the companion sculpture, Like Daughter (2010), a grimacing self portrait.

Repeat after Me (2011) further draws out Cornelius’s reflections on her role as both daughter and mother. Repeat after Me, modeled after the artist’s own ten-year-old daughter, shows a hunching, pre-adolescent girl with a bored look on her face. The title alludes to the imprint adults leave on children, while the sculpture itself illustrates the self-awareness and concern about body image that begin to grow as girls develop a more mature figure. Repeat after Me complements Cornelius’s sculptures of voluptuous older women: Lady Pears (2009) and Deformed Mothers (2007) explore the effects of aging and motherhood on the female body, while complicating the concept of an idealized body type.

Not simply the material of cups and bowls, Cornelius’s sculptures force the viewer to expand their understanding of ceramics. These visually captivating and intensely human sculptures engage the viewer mentally and emotionally. Cornelius employed newly-mastered techniques to take her work beyond the safety of traditional ceramic forms. I look forward to seeing where Cornelius will go next as she continues both her self-investigation and the expansion of her medium – exciting and promising work from a Tacoma native. Heather Cornelius’ solo exhibition is on display now until March 9th.

University Gallery at Pacific Lutheran University
Open Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
253-535-7573
12180 Park Ave. S Tacoma, WA 98447

Review by Kate Albert Ward

ABOUT TACOMA ARTS IN REVIEW
Tacoma Arts In Review, a new column on Exit 133, regularly shares timely reviews and stories on art happenings in Tacoma written by local college students and community members. For more information and application details, go here.