ArtWorks Karin Koerner Gallery

The gallery is named after long time ArtWorks' supporter, the late Karin Koerner. Karin provided outstanding support to the Artworks Program from its inception through to the time of her death. Her son Jamie has followed in his mum’s artistic footsteps as he is a long time participant in the ArtWorks Program.

About 15 years ago Bonnie Laird, one of the founders of ArtWorks, started talking with Karin Koerner and learned they shared the dream of creating a centre for professional artists with developmental disabilities. Karin was tireless in her pursuit of this goal but her support of the ArtWorks Program and indeed of the Garth Homer Society as a whole, was not limited to this goal alone. She was the first person to purchase art created in the program and became a serious collector of our artists' work. Some pieces she would then donate back to the Society including the works that hang in the Reception area today.

Karin wasn’t some faceless benefactor to ArtWorks – at least once a week you could find her in the building bringing in extra art supplies, talking with clients and infusing everyone she met with her warmth and kindness. She even joined the Board of Directors. Her generosity really knew no bounds and she was loved by the founders of ArtWorks as well as the artists. A light shone from within Karin and that light has inspired everyone associated with ArtWorks. There is no better name to grace this gallery than Karin Koerner.