Home :: Service Work

John M. Soderberg, Ph.D.,
Service and Achievement

• Painted and Sculpted since age five in India
   
• Best of Show, High School art show, Bangkok, Thailand, 1967
   
• Honorable Discharge, United States Marine Corps, 1973
   
• Volunteer, Arizona Family halfway house, 1974
   
• Taught Martial Arts as therapy to challenged children and adults
   
• Made logo jewelry for service organizations, 1974-1975
   
• Began teaching Sculpture to individuals and groups, 1977
   
• Artist in Residence, Northern Arizona University, 1980
   
• Assistance against Apartheid in South Africa for Amnesty International, 1985
   
• Assistance against war atrocities targeting children in Soviet occupied Afghanistan, 1985
   
• Assistance against the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, Washington, D.C., 1985
   
• Jubilee Year Distinguished Alumni Award, N.A.U., 1990
   
• Kiwanian of the Year, Camp Verde, AZ, 1990-1991, assistance to benefit local community
   
• President, Red Rocks Arts Council, Sedona, AZ, 1991-1992
   
• Two year Board Member of the Verde Valley Shelter for Domestic Abuse, mid 90s
   
• Supporter / Board Member of Victory Ranch shelter for at risk children, mid 90s
   
• Original member and 23 years of service with Rancho Feliz, Scottsdale based non-profit support group (three orphanages in Mexico, 40 Duplex housing project, child-care center, soup-kitchen for children, medical, dental, rest home, famine relief for Tarahumara Indians in Copper Canyon, Mexico
   
• Official Santa Claus for Rancho Feliz, fifteen years
   
• Three Sculptural donations to benefit Rancho Feliz
   
• Assistance to Southwest Arts in Action, Sedona, AZ, late 90s
   
• Ordained by Dr. Robert Schuller, founder of the Crystal Cathedral, Orange County, CA, 1997
   
• Doctorate in Humane Letters, Northern Arizona University, 1998
   
• Northern Arizona University Centennial Alumni Award, late 90s
   
• Assistance to benefit N.A.U. Education, late 90s
   
• Assistance to support The Status of Women, N.A.U., late 90s
   
• Assistance to support Valley Big Brothers and Sisters, 2002
   
• Donation of studio space, mentoring, help to benefit Sedona Buddhist Community for the 35 ft. high Stupa Project, 2004
   
• Assistance to benefit International Film Festival, Sedona, AZ, 2004
   
• Assistance to benefit JCS Synagogue, Sedona, AZ, 2006
   
• 12 ft. high Sculptural donation, Rancho Feliz, Agua Prieta, Mexico, 2006
   
• Knighted by Swedish Count Ulf Hamilton and honorably inducted into the Hamilton family, 2006
   
• Assistance to “Free the Slaves” organization, 2008
   
• Boardmember, Verde Valley Sanctuary, 2009
   
• Assistance to Camp Soaring Eagle for seriously ill children, Sedona, AZ, 2009
   
• Assistance to Free the Slaves organization, 2009
   
• Assistance to Rancho Feliz, 2009, Rider/ participant in the Bitahoche Fund-raiser, 2009
   
• Teaching at various art academies, workshops, and privately for 25+ years
   
• Mentorship of 20 to 30 professional sculptors, also apprentices, students, protégés
   
• Inventions and innovations to advance the state of the art of sculpture include: Classic Clay (now used by many sculptors world wide,) pioneered armature concepts and working techniques for Classic Clay, multi-colored patinas with sealing techniques, fragmentation concepts, tools for sculpting the human eye, pre-cast sales technique, innovations in texture, hair, drapery techniques, and more.
   
• Completion of many Sculptural commissions of notable historical or culturally influential persons
   
• 30 years of fine-art sculpture designed to document, encapsulate and convey the timeless power and drama of the human experience and potential