November Art at Work: Artist Spotlight

Lorraine Toler is a Korean-American painter. Lorraine grew up in Tacoma and has raised her family here.


When Lorraine's mother, Kim Okchun, was twelve-years old, she and her younger brother were sent away from their family farm in North Korea. During their journey south, Lorraine's mother and her younger brother separated. Her mother made it safely to South Korea. Kim eventually met and married Lorraine's father an American soldier stationed in Korea, but she came to the marriage without physical evidence of her past, she had no pictures, no letters, and no family, only memory.  Her stories stayed with Lorraine, and on the ten-year anniversary of Kim's death Lorraine made the decision to try and create something tangible that would serve to honor her mother and her stories.

Lorraine has touched a nerve with many generations of Koreans and many elderly American veterans residing here in the Northwest. Lorraine is interested in Korea’s history, in particular the women of Korea and how the Japanese occupation impacted them. It is Lorraine's goal to educate and inspire conversation about a history that is virtually unknown.  She puts a human face on historical events and honors her mother and others like her.

Lorraine's studio is on this weekend's Art Bus tour. Her studio is in the Jet Building, 1901 South Jefferson, across from The Swiss.