Native Vancouver artist and 2SLGBTQ+ advocate Joe Common died on Christmas Eve on the age of 67.
He handed away “peacefully” in his sleep, his siblings shared in a put up to social media.
Talking with CBC Information, his sister Karin Carson described Common as “the perfect large brother,” and mentioned she may be very pleased with him.
“His legacy will stay on,” she mentioned. “He is touched many individuals on this world.”
Carson mentioned her brother’s objective was to alter folks’s views on HIV/AIDS, and present the world you’ll be able to stay with the illness. He wished his artwork to present folks hope, Carson mentioned.
Common was advised he was HIV-positive when he was 27 years previous, a prognosis that pushed him to pursue his dream of turning into an artist.
Born in Victoria however later a Vancouver native, he grew to become well-known for his vibrant art work and his advocacy for HIV/AIDS consciousness and 2SLGBTQ+ rights.
His art work has made its means onto a Canadian stamp and on a loonie designed for the Royal Canadian Mint, and has been featured in quite a few banners and murals throughout Vancouver.
Common additionally ceaselessly donated his art work to charitable causes.
He was appointed to the Order of B.C. in 2021 and the Order of Canada final summer season.
Michael Harding, a longtime buddy of the artist, mentioned he fondly remembers accompanying Common to Ottawa for the ceremony in June.
“When the Governor Basic’s workplace referred to as him to say he was getting the [order], he referred to as me immediately and he mentioned, ‘Look, you have been there at the start, so do you wish to come?'”
Vancouver-based Janine Fuller, a outstanding determine within the 2SLGBTQ+ group, and Joe Common, an artist and AIDS advocate, have been among the many 13 British Columbians appointed to the Order of Canada this week. They spoke to the CBC concerning the honour.
Harding, who first met Common within the early Nineteen Eighties as a curator in Victoria, described him as a singular expertise whose work deepened in resonance after his prognosis.
“You possibly can see that in his artwork and among the issues that he is carried out, simply the reflection and the precise sense of humour that comes from having a tough time,” Harding mentioned.
“You do not understand how vital an individual is till they’re gone.”
Common’s official web site opens with the phrases “artwork heals,” a sentiment Harding mentioned outlined his buddy’s life.
“He had AIDS for 40 years and he maintained his wholesome perspective by being inventive,” he mentioned. “Creativity is what stored him alive, and the love of the group.”
‘Something however common’
Common labored with and raised 1000’s of {dollars} for the McLaren Housing Society of B.C. throughout his lifetime, a company that gives housing help for folks dwelling with HIV/AIDS.
“Joe was something however common,” the society’s government director, Ilm Kassan, mentioned.
“He was really outstanding.”
It’s a great distance from the times when an HIV prognosis was virtually all the time a loss of life sentence. That was the case for well-known Vancouver artist Joe Common, who was identified with HIV when he was simply 27 years previous. Radio-Canada’s Monia Blanchet caught up with the artist.
“He wished to create visibility and remind everybody that there is nonetheless lots of work to do, that we nonetheless have lots of people dwelling with this power sickness.”
Kassan mentioned regardless of all of the work Common had carried out for the group, of their final dialog over the summer season he had indicated he nonetheless wished to do extra.
Common was additionally deeply concerned with A Loving Spoonful, a charity that gives free meals to folks dwelling with HIV/AIDS in Metro Vancouver.
He was one of many individuals who relied on the non-profit when his well being was poor earlier than he started volunteering for it, mentioned the group’s government director Lisa Martella.
“He all the time supported our fundraising initiatives. He would additionally flip up at our occasions and he generally even signed an unique public sale merchandise, which, in fact, fetched 1000’s of {dollars} [for the organization],” she mentioned.
She added that Common’s compassion and dedication made him an integral a part of the group he championed by means of his artwork and advocacy.
“Joe is iconic,” she mentioned.
In a put up to social media, Carson mentioned her brother handed away Tuesday afternoon at residence.
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