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I am a 59 year old, self-taught artist, who has expressed myself through art since childhood.
First Nations art played a big role in inspiring my creativity. I have always loved the simplicity of the images, the graciousness of the lines and curves, and the emotional impact of the bright simple primary colours. I then discovered the “Pop Art” of Warhol, Lichtenstein and Peter Max. I was inspired that these fun and colourful images could be presented seriously on canvas.
At twenty-seven years old I was diagnosed HIV+. At the age of thirty I decided to dedicate the remainder of my life to art. Leaving work and refusing the assistance of Unemployment Insurance or Welfare, I challenged myself to live completely through my art.
With paper, charcoal, pastels, paint and a will to survive, I continued developing my survival skills and artistic abilities. I did not want to be on a deathbed wondering if I could have succeeded as an artist, or, wake up at 40 questioning the same. This threat and my awareness of mortality inspired and changed me. Art heals.
In the 70’s and 80’s I spent a lot of time with my camera mainly documenting people. In 2010 I started photographing again mainly doing self-portraits to document my struggles with lipoatrophy. I have lent my name and art to many social and humanitarian causes and I am a fierce advocate of arts education for children
Artist
(from - 2008 EDITION, CANADIAN WHO'S WHO)
AVERAGE, Joe, R.C.A.
Artist, painter; b. Victoria, B.C. 1957; s. Kenneth William Alvin and Sylvia Irene Tebbutt; e. Metchosin Elementary. School., Metchosin, B.C.; Sir James Douglas Elem. School., Victoria, B.C.; Oak Bay Sr. High, Victoria, B.C.
PRES., JOE AVERAGE INC
INDIVIDUAL EXHIBITIONS:
1980: New Era Social Club,Victoria, B.C. / The Joe Average Forgery Show
1984: E=MC2,Gallery / Vancouver, B.C. / It's Not Unusual
1984: E=MC2 Gallery,Vancouver, B.C. / These are a Few of my Favorite Things
1985: Comox Valley Arts Alliance, Courtney, B.C. / New Work
1986: Average Residence, Vancouver, B.C. / New Work
1987: Salon 545 Gallery, Vancouver, B.C. / New Work
1987: Mark Anthony Gallery, Vancouver, B.C. / New Work
1988: La Raffinage, Vancouver, B.C. / New Work
1988: Average Residence, Vancouver, B.C. / New Work
1989: Richard Henry Residence, Vancouver, B.C. / New Work
1989: Average Residence, Vancouver, B.C. / New Work
1990: Average Residence, Vancouver, B.C. / Joe Average Portrait Show
1991: Empty Store, Vancouver, B.C. / New Work
1991: Average Studio, Vancouver, B.C. / New Work
1992: A Walk Is Gallery, Vancouver, B.C. / New Work
1992: Stoodeo, Vancouver, B.C. / New Paintings
1992: Dianne Farris Gallery, Vancouver, B.C. / An Average Night Out
1993: A Walk Is Gallery, Vancouver, B.C. / New Work
1993: Joan Dean Gallery, Vancouver, B.C. / New Work
1994: A Walk Is Gallery, Vancouver, B.C. / New Work
1994: Stoodeo, Vancouver, B.C. / New Work
1995: A Walk Is Gallery, Vancouver, B.C. / New Drawings
1995: Dianne Farris Gallery, Vancouver, B.C. / Another Average Night Out
1996: A Walk Is Gallery, Vancouver, B.C. / New Work
1996: A Walk Is Gallery, Vancouver, B.C. / New Work
1996: Prior Editions Studio, Vancouver, B.C. / Hand Pulled Limited Edition Prints
1997: A Walk Is Gallery, Vancouver, B.C. / Ray of Hope Cocktail Show
1998: Joan Dean Gallery, Vancouver, B.C / Avoriginals
1998: Empty Sore, Vancouver, B.C. / Avoriginals
1999: Hart House, Vancouver, B.C. / New Work
2000: Winchester Gallery, Victoria, B.C. / New Work
COLLECTIVE EXHIBITIONS:
1983: Open Space Gallery, Victoria, B.C. / Fan Tan Alley Artists
1984: Open Space Gallery, Victoria, B.C. / The 1984 Show w/ Kent Tate
ORGANIZATIONS & CHARITIES:
The following is an overview of the organizations who have commissioned my work, and charities to whom I have donated my work for fund-raising
purposes:
CHARITIES:
AIDS Nova Scotia, AIDS Vancouver, AIDS Vancouver Island, AIDS Walk 500, British Columbia Rehab Foundation, Canadian AIDS Society, Autism Society
of British Columbia, Avalon Society, B.C. Special Olympics, B.C. SummerGames, Canadian Friends of the Hebrew University, Canadian PID Society,
Children's Hospital Capital Campaign, Children's Neurological Center, Dr. Peter Center, Friends For Life Society, Kumbaya Festival of Toronto
(AIDS Hospices), Jewish Family Service Agency, Loving Spoonful, Make A Wish Foundation, McLaren Housing Society, Muscular Dystrophy Association of Canada, Muscular Dystrophy Society of B.C., Oak Tree Clinic at B.C. Children's Hospital, Pacific AIDS Resource Center, Pacific Housing for
the Advancement of Minority Education, POSITIVE Women's Center, Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation, Share Our Strength Canada Society, St.
Paul's Hospital Palliative Care Unit, Think AIDS Society, Timmy's ,Christmas Telethon, The Tony McNaughton Memorial Fund (Hero), Vancouver
Crisis Center, Vancouver Food Bank, Vancouver Persons With AIDS Coalition, Victoria Cool Aid Society, Victoria Persons With AIDS Society, Walk for AIDS, YMCA of Vancouver, Youth Co..
CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS:
British Columbia Institute of Technology, Children's Room/Vancouver Public Market, Coquitlam River Elementary School, Lights for Life, Pacific Space Centre (Planetarium) Capital Campaign, Carson Graham Elementary School, Robson Street Banners, Simon Fraser Elementary School, Vancouver Foundation 50th Anniversary, Vancouver International Airport, Vancouver Museum 100th Anniversary, Vancouver Talmud Torah Elementary School, XI International Conference on AIDS.
CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS:
Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, Arts Club
|Theatre, Bravo Vancouver, Burnaby Arts Centre "Give Art a Home" Capital Campaign, Dance Centre of Vancouver, Jumpstart, Theater Terrific, Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver Men's Chorus, Vancouver New Music, Vancouver Opera.
AWARDS AND HONOURS:
1991: Canada / Canadian AIDS Awareness Society Poster Image
1991:Canada / Received by their Royal Highness's the Prince and Princess of Wales and their Excellencies the Governor General and Mrs. Hnatyshyn at Rideau Hall.
1992: Burnaby, B.C. / Honorary Citizen
1993: Vancouver, B.C. / Jessie Award
1993: Vancouver, B.C. / Think AIDS Society's Outstanding Commitment to the Community and the Fight Against AIDS.
1994: Vancouver, B.C. / Vancouver Civic Merit Award
1996: Vancouver, B.C. / XI International Conference on AIDS Image
1996: Canada / XI International Conference on AIDS Postage Stamp
1997: Canada / Arts for Young Audiences Award
1997: Vancouver, B.C. / Friend in Deed Award
1997: Vancouver, B.C. / Georgia Straight's Reader's Choice Award/Best Visual Artist
1997: Canada / National Canadian AIDS Society Poster Image
1998: Canada / Caring Canadian Award
2000: Canada / A Canadian Heritage Garden Commemorative Bench inclusion at Rideau Hall bestowed by Gerda and Ramon Hnatyshyn.
JUDGING
Department of Canadian Heritage /2000 Canada Day Poster Challenge (2000)
AIDS Memorial Committee /AIDS Memorial Design Competition (1996)
Vancouver Community College / Homophobia Awareness Poster Competition (2000)