Lorraine (Laurie) Fosmire is a photographic artist and has been photographing for many years (but I’m not allowed to say how many). Many of you know her from our South Bay Art Association (SBAA) meetings and her participation in the various SBAA events held yearly.
Laurie was born and raised in Lawrence, Massachusetts and was Valedictorian of her High School class! She attended college in nearby New Hampshire and studied at Lawrence General Hospital to become a Radiologic Technologist and worked there as a tech for a year before getting married to her husband, Fran. From there she and Fran moved to San Antonio, Texas to Fort Sam Houston where Fran did his basic training to become a lieutenant in the Army. Following that, they moved to Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Fran was discharged in June 1960 and they moved to Miami, Florida where he was in the administrative field at Jackson Memorial Hospital.
Laurie and Fran eventually settled in East Patchogue with 5 children (born in 4 different states) in 1969 and Fran became the Administrator of Brookhaven Memorial.
A little-known fact (at least to me) is that she was a member of the Hagerman Fire Department where she was an EMT and studied to become a firefighter. Previously she worked with the Bellport Ambulance as an EMT as well.
Photography was part of her early life. She has memories of her father putting together family photos that he took into albums; something that doesn’t happen much these days. She continued the practice of putting together albums of travel and family with her husband and five children.
Laurie will photograph almost anything – she loves buildings (architecture), nature, flowers, the ocean, sky, and loves doing photography when traveling. Two photographers she admires are Alfred Stieglitz (husband of Georgia O’Keeffe) and Walker Evans.
Aside from photography, Laurie loves working in her yard where she has many gardening areas filled with perennials. She is a volunteer twice a week at Long Island Community Hospital (formerly Brookhaven Memorial) and has been doing that for 48 years. She is also active in the Bellport Garden Club, the Bellport-Brookhaven Historical Society and South Bay Art Association SBAA) where she has been a member for many years.
Laurie originally joined SBAA in the 70’s when she was interested in drawing and painting and took workshops with Gerry Grace for drawing and Jody Love for watercolors and acrylics. However, as many of you know, art creation requires space to work in, and not having enough room at home, she stepped back from the association. In the mid 90’s she rejoined SBAA so that she could share her photography with other members of the group. She served as President of SBAA from 2002 – 2003 and again in 2006. To this date she is still a very active member.
Laurie was originally scheduled to display some of her images at the Cheese Patch in Patchogue from April 1 through May 31. However, due to the pandemic we are all experiencing now, her show had been postponed for June and July.
