User:KakinL/Dennis Liberty

Dennis Liberty, born Stamford, Connecticut on March 27, 1945, is an American painter and sculptor who, after living in nine different states and traveling widely in the U.S. Navy, settled in Albuquerque, NM in 1968. He is an award winning landscape artist and is noted for his series, 101 Views of the Sandias, paintings of the prominent mountains east of Albuquerque. In addition to his paintings, he is celebrated for his sculptures, both miniature and full scale, fanciful pewter figurines and historically accurate reproductions of medieval accouterments widely prized by members of the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA).

Early life
The middle son of three children born to U.S. Naval Construction Forces (Seabees) officer Capt. Harold F. Liberty and Margaret C. (Pearson) Liberty, Dennis was born in Stamford, CT, and lived there until he was eight years old when the family moved to San Diego, CA during WW II. At the end of the war, the Libertys were stationed at U.S. Navy bases in Bermuda, Virginia and southern California. While living in Malibu, CA, for part of his junior high and high school years, Liberty spent less time in school than in surfing. Due to ADHD, Liberty's schooling suffered but he discovered an outlet through artwork, developing his skills as a cartoonist and wood carver. Liberty graduated high school in Jacksonville, Florida, and after briefly attending Hussian School of Art, joined the U.S. Navy in Philadelphia, PA.

Naval Service
A Vietnam Era serviceman, Liberty was stationed at NAS Chase Field in Beeville, TX, where he met and married Mary Lou "Lou" Suddath in 1965. Their daughter, Merlyn, was born in 1966 prior to his transfer to Norfolk, VA and a six-month long deployment aboard the aircraft carrier, USS Independence.

Liberty's Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) was "Photographers Mate," allowing him to use his artistic sense to compose photos documenting activities aboard the ship.

After receiving an honorable discharge in 1968, Liberty settled in Albuquerque, NM, where he still resides.

Education
At the age of ten, Liberty began formal art training in California elementary schools. After moving to Bermuda, this training continued in private school. He studied at the Corcoran School of Art in Washington, D.C., and while in junior and high school in Santa Monica, CA, participated in the honors art program.

Liberty was awarded a competitive scholarship in art to attend Florida State University. He did not do well academically and dropped out, moving to Philadelphia where his father was stationed.

In Philadelphia, he attended Hussian School of Art, from September 1963 to January 1964. At Hussian he learned the fundamentals about the commercial art business and also met painter Tom Darrah, who also attended Hussian at the time.

From January 1969 to May 1973, Liberty attended the University of New Mexico in the Bachelor of University Studies program. Although never accepted into the Fine Arts program, Liberty studied painting under Sam Smith and Frank Boyden. He also took classes with Gunther Rothenberg. He studied at UNM the same time as Dennis Keefe, Cole Morgan, Nick Abdalla and Richard Hogan. Liberty did not graduate from UNM but considers himself an alumni.

Career Beginnings
Content about Dennis Liberty's career

Arts & Crafts Fairs - pewter figures New Mexico Arts & Crafts Fair -- Judge -- of what? Which year? Ruidoso Arts & Crafts Fair Oklahoma, Stamford University, Tuscon, Odessa, TX

"Influences" "pewter figurines for Hudson" "pewter figurines for Lance" Raymond's Quiet Press - Historically accurate replica jewelry

Jameson Gallery, Santa Fe, NM Studio Gallery, Alb, NM Gallery A, Taos, NM DSG Fine Art, Alb, NM

Exhibitions
Content about Dennis Liberty's exhibitions