| Title | Cista Nova Bestiolarum |
| Artist / Creator | Bettina Pauly |
| Artist's Nationality | German |
| Place of Publication | San Francisco, CA |
| Publication Date | 2011 |
| Subject | Nature |
| Number of Images | Three panels - each panel has one full illustration |
| Image Process | Hand-painted Gouache Scenery, Machine stitching, Letterpress printed title, Panels cut out by hand |
| Structure / Binding | Three-panel tunnel-book with a hard cover |
| Medium / Materials | Strips of driftwood bark are sewn onto panels |
| Paper Stock | Nepalese Lokta Paper, Somerset Paper |
| Number of Pages | Three panels plus wrap around cover |
| Dimensions (WxHxD) | 17 x 6.25 x 0.25 inches. Tunnel extends out 8 inches |
| Edition Size | Unique |
| Box / Wrapper | Presented in a half clam-shell box |
| Signed & Numbered | Signed by the artist |
Cista Nova Bestiolarum by Bettina Pauly
The hand painted critters showing Mayfly, Anchor Bug, Weevil and Grashopper. Pieces of thin layers of driftwood are sewn to the paper, machine stitching is used as a design element and to add stability to the structure, panels are cut out by hand. The structure of the book works exceptionally well to showcase a piece of nature featuring grass and insects. The scenery takes the viewer to a warm summer day. Imagine a hike in nature, taking a break and sitting or lying down along the trail. Taking in the smell, sound and warmth of the surroundings, and in the stillness becoming aware of the small critters buzzing in the air between the blades of grass. What a miraculous world! Sitting in stillness and observing the beauty of creation in this micro cosmos is breathtaking. What a gift to be able to slow down and witness this moment.
Artist Bio
Bettina Pauly was trained as a professional chef, then worked as a head server throughout Europe before she received a B.A. in Hotel-Economy from Hotel Management School in Heidelberg, Germany. After coming to the U.S. and working in hospitality here, she went back to school and studied at the Academy of Art University San Francisco in the Fine Arts program under Chris Rolik and Macy Chadwick. She gained further book arts knowledge at the San Francisco Center for the Book, specifically taking advantage of classes taught by artists such as Julie Chen, Kumi Korf, Paul Johnson, and Mary Laird. Bettina is living in San Francisco as a book artist and working as a letterpress printer with Kim Vanderheiden at Painted Tongue Studios, Oakland, California. She teaches workshops at the San Francisco Center for the Book, the Academy of Art University and O’Hanlon Center for the Arts. She loves books and boxes both as physical objects and as containers of meaning. She is interested in a variety of folded, sewn and woven structures in which she can incorporate her printing. Her award winning work is included in library collections at: St John’s/Saint Benedict College Minnesota, Minnesota, Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, University of Denver, Colorado, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, San Jose State University, California, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Nebraska Her work is shown at Galleries in the Bay Area and in Portland, Oregon, and has been featured in 500 Handmade Books, Good Mail Day, 1000 Artists’ Books, Thread Loves Paper, Ed Hutchins’ Moveable Book Society Newsletter.