Joe Average

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Banners designed by Joe Average decorate the Davie Village gaybourhood.

Joe Average is a Canadian artist who lives in Vancouver, British Columbia. Diagnosed HIV+ at age 27, Average made the decision to commit the rest of his life to art, and to challenge himself to live by his art.

Average frequently donates work to charitable causes, such as Vancouver's annual Art for Life auction. His work has been used for such projects as A Loving Spoonful (a charity which provides meals to people with terminal illnesses) and the Davie Village. Average has also been selected to judge submissions for Vancouver's AIDS memorial and anti-homophobia posters.

Average is known for his cheerful, colourful, cartoony work, including images of flowers, animals and insects, and people. He has received many awards and honours, including civic merit awards, the Caring Canadian Award (1998) and the Queen's Golden Jubilee Silver Medal for Outstanding Community Achievement (2002). Vancouver's mayor also pronounced November 3, 2002 as "Joe Average Day."

Average was honoured as one of two Grand Marshals of Vancouver's annual gay pride parade in August 2006.