Sonja London-Hall - Sonja London-Hall's Artist Biography

Sonja London-Hall's Gallery - Artist Biography

Sonja London-Hall

Stained Glass, Fused Glass, Precious Metal Clays

My love for glass began with glass exposure and instruction from the locally known Judy Hartman. I have enhanced copper foil and lead techniques over the past 18 years studying glass and precious metal clay craft under the tutelage of nationally known artists such as: Cathy Claycomb, Petra Kaiser, Jacqui Bush (glass and metal crafting); MaryAnn Devos, Lyle Rayfield (Precious metal clays); Doug Remschneider (flame working).

Background: I received my BMA in 1984 from Arizona State University as Music major and two M.Ed’s from Northern Arizona University in Technology and Bilingual/Multicultural studies; 1997 and 2004 consecutively. I was a band director, drama teacher, and free-lance musician between 1985 and 2008.

I have a strong feel for color and layout. I enjoy the addition of three dimensions to glass work, *organic elements, and the infusion of technology with the creative process. I often use a mixed media approach to design using my own digital photographs of art, ideas or concepts, and then rework these images on the computer using image editing and/or special effects software. I am an artist member of the Flagstaff Artists Gallery, and Stone Creations Home Decor and More, Sedona. I currently work in the Flagstaff Public School system and have been involved with education for 25 years.

Artists Statement

“It is my goal as a lifelong teacher to instill in learners a fascination with the creative process. It is in that creative space the human spirit can rejuvenate and rediscover itself. Art and music merit contemplation and has always been my source of inspiration.”

Education

1984, Arizona State University, Bachelor of Music

1997, Northern Arizona University, Master’s in Education, Elementary Ed/Technology emphasis

2006, Northern Arizona University, Master’s in Education, BME/Ed. Leadership emphasis

Glass Related Awards and Exhibits

2010 Glass Craft and Bead Expo, Gallery of Excellence 1^st place award, Professional Stained Glass

2010 NAU High Altitude Conference Center, Juried exhibit

InFlux, juried fine craft exhibit 2009

It’s Elemental, (2009, 2008, 2007, 2006) juried fine craft exhibit featuring work of over 50 regional fine craft artisans working in wood, metal, fiber, clay, glass, or paper.

Glass and Bead Expo, (2009), Art Glass Class Showcase, Kokomo Glass

Commissioned work

Art’s and Craft’s Period Pieces, cabinetry and windows

Lamp work and Custom outdoor lighting

“Organic Glass” creations, portfolio sample images

Silver wire jewelry sets, portfolio sample images

Abstract Peaks

Gallery Affiliation

The Artist’s Gallery, Flagstaff, AZ

Stone Creations at Hillside Sedona Pavilion, Sedona, AZ

*Organic Glass Creations

All head glass is hand selected at the Kokomo glass factory. In most cases the glass is hand mixed and created at Kokomo glass factory. Each piece is matched to roundels or agate slices for maximum beauty and one-or-a-kind glass art symmetry.

Many glass roundels are made in Flagstaff, Arizona at Fire On the Mountain Gallery. The pieces are enhanced and matched to glass by the artist, Sonja London-Hall.

Accent items:

Sticks: the sticks are actual hard wood samples and are hand selected to correspond with the glass art being created. Although a structural component of the piece, do not pick up the art BY the stick. Total time spent on each stick varies, depending on the size of the stick. An average 12 stick takes between 2 and 4 hours to prepare and mount.

Agates: agates are made by Mother Nature and are naturally brown, tan, and opal/cream in color. Agates that have a tint have been color soaked. Tinted agates that are left in direct sunlight will fade over time but retain their natural, crystalline beauty. Agates must be heat tempered and handled carefully in the soldering process.

Glass Gems: gems are colored, round accent pieces of glass. If used, they are selected to enhance the overall artistic balance of the piece.

Copper ingots: pieces of copper in the form of an ingot may be integrated into the art form of a piece. If used, the ingots come from the Morenci, Arizona copper mine and are part of the purity testing of copper batches (thus the drill holes). The copper ingots are 99.98% pure copper.

Foiling: copper foil overlay is used to accent many glass art pieces. It is a process of overlaying and then soldering copper foil onto glass. Copper foil overlay can take on many varied accent forms.

Edge material: the edge material of each glass piece is structural. Silver toned edge on the large pieces is zinc. Copper toned edge material is actual copper plated zinc and is a very expensive material, varying with the price of copper at the time of purchase. Each bent or curved frame takes between 30 minutes to an hour to form without twisting or torque-ing the normally straight form of the channels.

All glass art is carefully pondered, balanced, and thoughtfully put together as a one of a kind piece. A certificate of authenticity is provided with purchase upon request.

All glass is copyright protected and may not be reproduced or photographed without express, written permission from the artist.