Geneviève Castrée

Geneviève Castrée was born in Loretteville, Quebec, and later lived in the Pacific Northwestern United States.

Castrée grew up reading Tintin comics from an early age, so much so that she eventually entered, studied for, and won a Tintin competition. Castrée was drawing comics influenced by artists she loved from an early age; these include: Hergé, Renée French, Chester Brown, Julie Doucet, and Argentinian artist Quino.

Castrée began her cartooning career in her teens, publishing minicomics. Montreal publisher L'Oie de Cravan published her first book Lait Frappé in 2000, followed by Roulatheque Roulatheque Nicolore in 2001, but it was Pamplemoussi in 2004 that launched her into the international spotlight in both the comic and music world. Pamplemoussi was an unconventionally large book at 12" by 12" as it also included an LP of music that accompanied her drawing. Pamplemoussi was Castrée's first musical release and her first major movement to integrate her music and visual art into one cohesive practice.

After the release of Pamplemoussi, Castrée went on to release eight albums under the names Woelv (2004-2007) and Ô PAON (2007-2016), all with her own artwork, as well as collaborations with fellow northwest musical icons Karl Blau and Lori Goldston.

In 2013 Drawn and Quarterly released what would be Castrée's last image book, Susceptible--a memoir that chronicled Castrée's childhood growing up in Quebec and eventual movement to British Columbia. In November 2015 L'Oie de Cravan published her final book "Maman Sauvage" a book of poems in French, under the name Geneviève Elverum. In October 2016 she was posthumously included in The Best American Comics 2016, edited by Roz Chast.

She was married to musician Phil Elverum, who has released music as The Microphones and Mount Eerie.

She was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2015, shortly after the birth of her and Elverum's only child. In June 2016, a GoFundMe account was set up by Elverum to assist with their finances. She died on July 9, 2016. A concept album titled A Crow Looked at Me was composed by her husband to chronicle the end of her life and to mourn her death.

Collaborations and appearances

• Welcome Nowhere by Adrian Orange, P.W. Elverum & Sun, 2004.
• No Flashlight by Mount Eerie, P.W. Elverum & Sun, 2005.
• The Watery Graves of Portland and/et Geneviève, with The Watery Graves of Portland, Marriage Records, 2007.
• Mount Eerie Pts. 6 & 7 by Mount Eerie, P.W. Elverum & Sun, 2007.
• Karl & Geneviève, with Karl Blau, 7" record, TAUS 002 Disques Ô PAON, 2011.
• Clear Moon by Mount Eerie, P.W. Elverum & Sun, 2012.
• Already Drowning by Aidan Baker, Gizeh Records, 2013.
• Sauna by Mount Eerie, P.W. Elverum & Sun, 2015.

Woelv releases

• Pamplemoussi LP, L'Oie de Cravan, 2004.
• Gris, CD-EP & 10" record, P.W. Elverum & Sun, 2006.
• Le niveau de la mer/Bête à Cheval, 7" record, K Records, 2007.
• Tout Seul Dans La Forêt En Plein Jour, Avez-vous Peur? K Records, 2007

Woelv compilation appearances

• Le Béluga on Trust In Sirens: What The Heck Fest 2004, Kelp Monthly, 2004.
• Réconciliation on Flotsam and Jetsam: What The Heck Fest 2005, Kelp Monthly, 2005.
• Le Déserteur (Boris Vian) on Free The Bird: What The Heck Fest 2006, Kelp Monthly, 2006.

"Ô PAON" releases

• a)b)c)d)e), 7" record, TAUS 001 Disques Ô PAON, 2009.
• Courses, CD/LP, TAUS 003 Disques Ô PAON, 2010.
• Quatorze/Quanze Ans, 10" record, TAUS 004 Disques Ô PAON, 2013.
• Fleuve, LP, TAUS 005 Disques Ô PAON, 2015.

"Ô PAON" compilation appearances

• Raffinerie on What The Heck Fest 2007, Charming Tedious, 2007
• Les Cerfs-Volants on The Second Marriage Compilation, Marriage Records, 2007.
• Le Retour on No Band is An Island, Knw-Yr-Own, 2008.
• Nunavik on Songs For The Arctic Ocean, Beat is Murder Records, 2009.

1. PressPop (solo show), Tokyo
2. Adam Baugmgold Gallery, New york
3. Junc Gallery, 2006 (two person show)