Diane Obomsawin’s ON LOVING WOMEN
Book Launch and Interview, Author in attendance
Friday March 7th, 9:00pm, @ The Henhouse
Part of the ‘Coven’ Reading Series
Featuring Damian Rogers, Alex Tigchelaar
Co-Sponsored by Drawn & Quarterly and The Beguiling
Have you had a chance to read Diane Obomsawin’s brilliant new book On Loving Women? A perfect collection of annecdotes, short stories, and reflections on lesbian attraction and relationships throughout the author’s life. We’re very happy to be welcoming this fine author to Toronto, and partnering with our good friend Alex Tigchelaar and her “Coven” event at The Henhouse, to celebrate this book.
On Loving Women is available now at The Beguiling, and will be for sale at the event on the evening of. Hope to see you there!
EDIT: The folks at Coven have done a wonderful write-up of the event and Diane Obomsawin’s work! Check it out under the cut:
This month at COVEN we are over the moon to host the Toronto launch of Diane Obomsawin’s graphic novel On Loving Women (J’aime les Filles).
On Loving Women is a new collection of stories about coming out, first love, and sexual identity by the animator Diane Obomsawin. With this work, Obomsawin brings her gaze to bear on subjects closer to home—her friends’ and lovers’ personal accounts of realizing they’re gay or first finding love with another woman. Each story is a master class in reaching the emotional truth of a situation with the simplest means possible. Her stripped-down pages use the bare minimum of linework to expressively reveal heartbreak, joy, irritation, and fear.
On Loving Women focuses primarily on adolescence—crushes on high school teachers, awkwardness on first dates—but also addresses much deeper-seated difficulties of being out: fears of rejection and of not being who others want one to be. Within these pages, Obomsawin has forged a poignant, powerful narrative that speaks to the difficulties of coming out and the joys of being loved. (DRAWN & QUARTERLY)
Diane sometimes works under the pseudonym Obom. She has been entrenched in the BD and animation scene in Québec since the ‘80s and was one of the original artists at Foufounes Electriques’ notorious BD en directe. The Québec comic book scene was one of the most vibrant and anarchic of this pivotal time in the history of the form and Diane is one of its stars.
Diane’s work has appeared in the Québecois poetry journal L’Oie de Cravan. She is published by Drawn & Quarterly. Have a look at some of her beautiful animation work here:
Diane will be reading from On Loving Women and Alex will interview her, hopefully not bursting into a fit of homesick sentimental Montreal tears. Damian will read incantations and poetry and channeling our dead through pipe cleaners. Canon Cook will spin from her precious record collection, rescued from a Hamilton storage unit. The poet Hoa Nguyen will be on the tarot decks this month.
Beginning in April, Coven will be the first Thursday of the month with doors at 8pm because Alex is too old and cranky to stay and DJ till 2:30. Seriously. If you thought she was crabby DJing at Ciao Edie’s ten years ago you should see her now.
Please join us for our last Friday this March 7th. Doors at 9pm, reading begins around 9:45. Diane Obomsawin will have books for sale and signing.
The Henhouse, 1532 Dundas West.
Co-hosted by The Beguiling and Drawn & Quarterly.
– Chris @ The Beguiling
