- Mary Newberry introduces the new issue of the magazine. With Descant 132, we have devoted an entire issue to exploring the darkly humourous, sometimes absurd landscape of Gowdy’s universe. Within this volume, writers of several generations attest to the importance of this mid-career artist’s captivating body of work, the unique qualities of her imagination, and the clarity of her style. This is a testament to the profound influence that a single imagination can have upon the world, a sounding of an artist in full flight.

- Several of the participating readers forthe evening included (clockwise from upper L): Catherine Graham, who recalled her time as a student of Gowdy’s at the U of T; Shyan Selvadurai, who spoke of discovering Gowdy’s writing while in Sri
Lanka; T.F. Rigelhof, who read; Steven Heighton, who read a poem inspired by Gowdy’s work + an extract from his interview with her.

- Marni Jackson (not pictured), read from her recollections of collaborating on a screenplay with Gowdy.

- Descant's Editor-in-Chief Karen Mulhallen watches along as the night's readings take place.

- during the intermission, an original hand-drawn cartoon by Margaret Atwood entitled “Why We Love Barbara” was auctioned to raise funds for Descant magazine; Rory “Gus” Sinclair acted as our auctioneer for this event. The winning bid on this artwork was $1350.

- a draw was also held for an original photograph by Robert Teteruck

• the readings concluded with Gowdy herself reading an extract from her
novel-in-progress 'Helpless'