Not Your Average Joe
Plaskett was born in my ‘hood and I helped bring one of his paintings into the light…
I have known Toni since I was in high school — some 55 years ago — and a couple of years ago, I learned that she also lives on the west coast of Canada in New Westminster, B.C. as I do. We reconnected, quickly rekindling our warm friendship and, recently, she purchased one of my talented wife’s paintings, asking if we would help her hang it in her home.
We agreed on a suitable spot and completed the task. While we admired the new acquisition we chatted about art. At some point in the conversation, Toni casually mentioned that she owned a painting by Joe Plaskett — an artist who was born in our neighborhood. I was curious and asked to see it.
“Give me a minute,” she said, “It’s in the back of a closet upstairs.”
My initial thought was, What in the world is a Joe Plaskett painting doing in the back of a closet?
Joe Plaskett, born Joseph Francis Plaskett (1918–2014) is considered one of Canada’s most important and well-established painters. He was awarded The Order of Canada in 2001 for his contribution to the visual arts.
Toni returned with the painting and leaned it against a wall. It is a tall, narrow painting roughly 48 x 10 inches (122 x…
