Interview with a Dreamchaser 🌟 Sonja Henderson 🌟

Sculptor and activist Sonja Henderson talks about Divine Timing, navigating rejection, and gratitude.

Tell me about a time you had to start over, or a dream you accomplished.

In April 2023 I accomplished a life long dream unveiling a national monument dedicated to the life and service of Mamie Till-Mobley. I sculpted the Mamie Till-Mobley and Emmett Till Memorial which received Congressional Recognition and is being vetted to be looped into the federally protected (noncontiguous) National Monument.

I learned figure modeling at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago under the tualidge of Preston Jackson. He encouraged me to learn mold-making, casting and the foundry process. From that point I wanted to cast The People—common “everyday” people with incredible stories.

The Mamie Till-Mobely and Emmett Till memorial tells the courageous story of Civil Rights leader and Humanist Mamie Till coming into her voice while speaking out against her son’s heinous murder. The podium she stands beside represents Emmett Till and his life story told through powerful detailed bas relief vignettes around each side.

A career artist must hustle to sell themselves and their work. What’s your #1 Hustle Tip?

My #1 Hustle Tip is: to understand Divine Timing. We are all working on or toward something, be it personal, financial, and/or spiritual achievement. To accept that there is a greater plan at work helps one to better understand or navigate the “no”, rejection or loss. That these are not really doors closing but a way of steering you to better opportunities and experiences. Keep at it and at some point everything falls into Alignment.

Sonja with her father and brother.

What big hurdle did you overcome to reach your goal?

My biggest life hurdle that I am currently overcoming is the tragic and unexpected loss of my beloved Brother, Father, and Grandmother in one month. Grief and trauma are very tricky emotions to overcome, move through, work on, get over, heal… So, I am processing the loss of my family while also having to live, work, and communicate somewhat “normally” on a daily basis. I process this loss by deeply meditating on my love and gratitude for these people, through art creation and by being generous and loving to people in need.

What’s the main lesson you learned?

The biggest lesson I have learned specifically from my experience with extreme loss is, Gratitude. To be grateful for my Brother and Father and all they taught me, the love and kindness they bestowed me, the laughs and giggles, support and dreams we shared is more than I could have ever wished for or dreamed up on my own. I am grateful for my life experience with them.

Dinner for Mothers healing Circle with their quilts on display.

Do you another goal or dream?

Right now I am redesigning who I am, so to come out of this better, more compassionate and wiser is something. I have also started a group called the Mothers Healing Circle for Mothers who have lost their children to violence. I had been working on the west side of Chicago for years and no one seemed to be paying attention to these incredible yet traumatized women. I acted with my heart and with the support of friends and small grants I have been healing Mothers, families, and communities for going on four years. Creating this Restorative and Healing Justice circle of women has helped me tremendously on my journey.

What’s your advice for someone who’s starting over, or wants to achieve a dream?

Keep it moving. Surround yourself with likeminded supportive people. Dream big, and update your dreams.

Mamie Till-Mobley and Emmett Till Memorial designed and sculpted by Sonja Henderson  stands in Till Plaza at Argo Community High School in Chicago.

Sonja Henderson received her B.F.A. from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago  in Painting and Drawing and received her M.F.A. from the University of California at Berkeley, where she concentrated in Sculpture and Installation. At Berkeley, Sonja created life-size earthworks and temporal structures made of clay, earth, twigs and organic materials calling attention to original architecture. Her feminine forms and earthworks speak to sacred space, placemaking and cultural identity. Sonja’s installations challenge our perception of the world and socio-political constructs through manipulation of media, scale, and recontextualization of form.

In Chicago, Sonja collaborates with several agencies including: Illinois Humanities, Urban Gateways, SAIC Homan Square and Chicago Public Art Group where she uses Restorative and Social Justice practices centering equity, healing and Human Rights. In addition to teaching, Sonja also creates large scale public artwork that re-imagines monuments and memorials, encourages community building and gives voice to collective storytelling.

Sonja founded the Mothers Healing Circle (MHC) in January of 2020 to help heal Lawndale Mother’s traumatic and violent loss of their children. Together, through rejuvenating workshops, storytelling, movement and meditative arts the Mothers have a sacred space to heal and disrupt the cycle of pain and suffering. The Mothers Healing Circle provides a safe in-person and virtual space for gathering, sisterhood, community, understanding and listening. This collective space for healing our Mothers is the first step in healing the family, community and nation.

Mother Healing Circle’s Go Fund Me.

Short film by Johnae Strong of Mother's Healing Circle Celebration with the mothers flying quilted flags for their loved ones.

Relevant Social and Restorative Justice Work:

Sonja uses“memorial”iconography and considers ideas of sacred space, meditation and wellness when creating public works of art. For instance, the “September 11^th Wall of Remembrance”currently on exhibit at the Chicago Historical Museum honors the first anniversary of the World Trade Center Towers falling and all of the men and women who lost their lives to government sanctioned violence. This interactive public art piece asked visitors and passersby to create a milagro through stenciled imagery or text to illustrate their personal experience on 9/11. It was a way to gather individual stories while helping heal the collective consciousness.

Sonja also collaborated on a Rwandan Girls Exchange (2008) which opened an international dialogue between young women and mentors addressing HIV/Aids, stigma, trauma, health and wellness. The young women in the exchange created two beautiful sister mosaic murals for a clinic in Kigali, Rwanda and Chicago’s C.O.R.E Center. Through this exchange the young women gained a greater sense of self and global community.

In 2016, Sonja co-created the MLK Living Memorial on 67^th st. and Kedzie in Marquette Park bringing to light the Chicago based Fair Housing Marches and people’s movement in 1967. With fellow sculptor and public artist John Pitman Weber, Sonja designed and sculpted the MLK Living Memorial’s 42 ft. diameter plaza, curved benches, and hand carved brick stele (walls) towering 10.5 feet tall. They also conducted over 10 community workshops which added local concerns and ideas about housing, equity and justice through their creation of hand crafted tiles. The Community Tiles were installed on the front of the benches reflecting the narratives on the 3 stele. Sonja believes education, public art and enriched active communal spaces are powerful conduits to healing and reclaiming one's personal story and collective history.

Sonja designed and sculpted the Mamie Till-Mobley and Emmett Till Memorial receiving Congressional Recognition and a promise of being looped into the Till National Park Monument. Through Sonja’s vision and with historic images, mother Mamie and son Emmett were reunited as a cast bronze figure and narrative podium. The monument stands in Till Plaza at Argo Community High School.

For more information, or to connect with Sonja, visit her website.