Makers & Mentors: Lorraine Turi

Currents, Digital Collage, 2023, 20x16

I strongly believe that conceptual studio art plays a crucial role in teaching students creative problem-solving skills, which are valuable in all aspects of life. By working with various technologies and materials, students not only acquire practical skills but also enhance their creativity. 

I hold education in high regard. Growing up, I did not have access to higher education

and completed my degrees later in life. One of the reasons I became an educator was my positive interactions with students as an older adult; I learned a great deal from them and thoroughly enjoyed the experience of learning alongside them.

Research Statement

My research is dedicated to the environment, exploring photography through a translation of data, which I use to confront complex historical and contemporary issues centered around the environment. 

My current research, Plastic, is an exploration about the discard of recycled plastic. Every day, approximately 8 million pieces of plastic are dumped into the ocean. This research began when I noticed plastic sticking out of the sand while walking on a beach in Florida. Every day I collected plastic and photographed it. Later, I combined the plastic photographs with photographs I had taken of the ocean to make large digital collages. 

I am at a place in the project where the goals of my practice become action. This work has forced me to confront my relationship with plastic, and I am committed to changing my habits and reducing my consumption.

Lorraine Turi

Artist/Lecturer

UNC Charlotte 

Web: lorraineturi.com