Meet our instructors

KAROLINE VARIN-JARKOWSKI  Karoline has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Waterloo and along with solo shows, has participated in juried exhibitions in Ontario and abroad. She is a painter and creates mixed media book works. Karoline has taught art classes at the Beckett School of Music, privately for the Stratford Public Library and St. John's -Kilmarnock Private School, and has been a Project Co-ordinator for the Waterloo Community Arts Centre, Waterloo. Her art work can be found at the Sussex Studio (Ottawa), Art Restoration Inc. (Toronto), Trias Gallery (Toronto) and the Paula White-Diamond Gallery (Waterloo).  Karoline has been teaching studios and workshops at KW|AG since 2009, including adult encaustic painting, papermaking and drawing, youth Artlab studios and children's summer art camp. Explore Karoline's work by visiting her website here>

STEPHEN LAVIGNE  Stephen Lavigne holds a Masters of Fine Arts from the University of Western Ontario and Bachelor of Arts - Honours Fine Arts from the University of Waterloo. He has taught adult and youth studio courses at KW|AG since 2008 and is a trained Gallery tour guide for schools and special groups. Prior to returning to the Kitchener-Waterloo area, Steve worked as a Studio Instructor at Museum London and as a Studio Instructor and Teaching Assistant at the University of Western Ontario. When not working at KW|AG, Steve works on his own practice of paintings and sculptures relating to mobile homes. Explore Steve's work by visiting his website here>

KATE CARDER-THOMPSON  Kate Carder-Thompson earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec, and a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Toronto.  Formerly an Art Teacher in Lakefield, Ontario, Kate is now working as an Illustrator and Graphic Designer. She works primarily with pencil and watercolour and has an affinity for children's illustration.  Kate is a trained KW|AG tour guide for school and specials groups, and has been teaching youth and adult programs at the Gallery since 2009. Explore Kate's work on her website here> Kate leads a mini virtual tour of our Winter 2011 exhibitions on YouTube here>

DIANE EASTHAM "I love working with abstract and geometric form, text, intense colour, texture and layers." Named Rogers Oktoberfest Woman of the Year,  2011 (Arts and Culture), Diane is an award-winning artist, writer, photographer and teacher. She brings more than 30 years experience and expertise as a working artist and educator to her work, which has been featured in Grand Magazine, Most Magazine, Somerset Studio (Gallery Edition), and The Rubber Stamper, as well as in various anthologies and newspapers. Diane has participated in numerous juried, group and one-woman shows. Her work is found in public and private collections throughout Canada and internationally. Professionally, she holds memberships in the KW Society of Artists, the Royal City Calligraphy Guild, the Grand River Photographers Society, the Canadian Authors Association, and the Creativity Coaching Association. Explore Diane's work on her website or e-mail her at deastham@sympatico.ca

YVONNE ZENSNER The founder of downtown Kitchener's Cake Box, Yvonne has been spotted all over the wedding scene. Canada AM, Rich Bride Poor Bride, WEDDINGBELLS magazine, The Grand Magazine and Rogers Daytime. Her cakes have also won many awards such as the TD Canada Trust Retailer of the Year award, Waterloo Chronicle Readers Choice Award for Best Dessert, and Wedluxe Best of 2010 award winner for Cake Design. Yvonne started off as a cookie designer, gaining much appreciation and popularity through her innovations and techniques she decided to utilize her talents by taking it a step further and transitioning into making custom wedding cakes and cupcakes. Cake Box is now a successful shop that couples go to seeking uniquely designed cakes for their weddings. Yvonne's cakes and cupcakes are a fan favourite not only in  the Kitchener-Waterloo area, but also across Canada and internationally with customers from all over the U.S., Britain, Norway, and Sweden! Visit The Cake Box

EMILY GOVE Emily Gove holds a Masters of Fine Arts from York University and an honours Bachelor of Arts in Art & Art History from the University of Toronto.  Prior to joining the KW|AG team, she was Education Coordinator at Oakville Galleries, and taught youth and adult studio courses at Gallery 44 Centre for Contemporary Photography and York University.  Emily is a practicing artist working in video, photography, interactive dating shows, makeover stations and bingo nights.  She is currently the Community Programmer for KWAG and the Kitchener Public Library. Visit Emily's website