Pacifica Stories

Ms. Liberty has always loved Los Angeles and all it has to offer. Growing up in Torrance and PV, she even has memories of going to the 3rd Street Promenade with her parents as a kid. Her dad was a toy inventor and entrepreneur, so there was a lot of room for creativity in her family life. She often shares with her classes how design was the topic of dinnertime conversation in her family.

Even still, being an artist never really entered Ms. Liberty’s mind until she was well into college and taking her very first art class. In high school, she learned to sew and loved to make things, but it didn't occur to her that sewing or fabric could be used as an artistic tool. After starting college at Pepperdine as “undeclared,” she soon found that her love for writing fit well with the (very practical) major of public relations. She loved her art history classes and took every single one offered until they ran out. She decided to sign up for beginning drawing in her junior year and her life was forever changed. It wasn't that she was especially good at drawing, but she loved doing it. By the time she graduated college, she had two majors and had studied abroad in Florence, Italy where she discovered the world of textile design.

Ms. Liberty’s first job outside of college was as a textile designer, working for six years in the corporate interior design industry. During that time, she also married her husband, Jay, and then started a few companies of her own—making and selling handmade jewelry, clothing, and finally art. Three kids came along—most folks at Pacifica know her middle son, Zane (Class of 2024). It was actually not through him that she ended up working here, but through a friend in a professional artists’ group who invited her to join as a part-time studio art teacher in the PACARTS department. Being part-time faculty is perfect for her because after teaching classes on campus in the mornings, she is able to devote the afternoons to working in her personal studio.

Loving her role as an art teacher caught Ms. Liberty by surprise. She never thought she would be a high school teacher—even though she has been leading workshops and lessons for over 20 years. More than anything else, it's her students that motivate and inspire her—watching them discover hidden talents and walking alongside them in their creative journeys and endeavors has been an absolute joy that she didn't anticipate. She loves talking with them about art and many of their conversations have sparked inspiration in her own work.

These days Liberty spends her time outside of school working on her art business. She takes commissions from customers, designs products for companies, and has been fortunate to have her work shown in museums and galleries. She also travels as a conference speaker and art teacher across the country and abroad. She loves traveling as much as she loves art, so any chance she gets to travel is a win.

This year, she opened up a second art studio right next door to her personal one in West Adams area, just east of Culver City. The new project is called Stitch Salon and is an incubator space for people who want to learn more about the sewing arts or who want to rent space to work on their own textile projects. She teaches lessons and camps there along with hosting events. Liberty has also published a book of poetry and has plans for a book showcasing her visual artwork as well.

Her students are an absolute delight for her and she considers herself lucky to be a part of their creative journeys. A major highlight for her this year was the Winter Art Gallery, Rebirth—no small feat for a part-time teacher and a group of student curators! Including works by Pacifica faculty and staff was new this year. Ms. Liberty wants her students to know that art can be a rich part of their lives forever, even if they don’t go on to become professional artists. When our talented teachers and administrators included their work in the show, it was a powerful example of how art can remain in life well beyond high school art class.