Book Launch and Exhibition of Rezbians by Carmen Selam

Celebrating Love on the Rez: Rezbians – A Radiant Slice-of-Life Comic of Indigenous Queer Life and Love.

Growing up on the reservation, Selam lacked access to media that reflected her experiences as an Indigenous Queer woman. In Rezbians, (fourty pages, edition of 200) Selam has written and illustrated a slice-of-life art comic that delves into the contemporary lives of two characters navigating young love on the rez. Rezbians is more than just a comic; it is a celebration of Indigenous culture and love, a reflection of personal experiences, and love of the self. Selam’s aim for Rezbians is to create visibility of the everyday realities of Indigenous Queer/Two-Spirit people and the relationships they inhabit.

This limited edition artist comic book presented at the final show is the culmination of work created during Risolana’s 2023 Artist-in-Residence Program. The Risolana residency explores meditations on community, dialogue, and reflection and provides artists with hands-on support for learning how to print with a risograph machine.