What is a Bestiary?

A bestiary (from bestiarum vocabulum) is a compendium of beasts. Originating in the ancient world, bestiaries were made popular in the Middle Ages in illustrated volumes that described various animals and even rocks. The natural history and illustration of each beast was usually accompanied by a moral lesson.

The legacy of the bestiary has lasted far beyond the Middle Ages with contemporary artists and printmakers continuing the tradition of the pairing of animal imagery and text, often calling their creations “bestiaries” after the medieval example. Today the term often refers to any collection of descriptions of animals, whether in words or images, but not necessarily with associated allegories or Christian connotations.

The collaboration : The process

Each participant in this project will randomly be given a letter from A to Z by an area coordinator.

You will create a design of an imaginary or real, creature or animal relating to the letter you have been given (the design must somehow incorporate the given letter).

There will also be a title page and a colophon page listing everyone’s names (printed by participating letterpress printmakers).

The page size will be approx. A5. Print an edition of 30 prints on the paper supplied.

Return your completed 30 prints to a coordinator, the date of the return of the completed prints will be organised by each co-ordinator sometime in the second half of the year and no later than the end of September.

All of the participants’ prints will then be collated into sets and it is envisaged that all the participants will come together one weekend to bind a full set of pages into a book to keep. If this will not be possible the co-ordinator for each area will make appropriate alternative arrangements. Please do not let this weekend be the reason for not participating; we will work around individual difficulties, but many of us wish to have a focus for a get together.

Please note: as there has been a lot of enthusiasm expressed for this project, there may be more than one book produced with perhaps the larger regions having their own coordinator and organising their own book.

These co-ordinators are:

Auckland Area – Jude Gordon gordonjude@gmail.com

Rest of the North Island – Di Harries info@printcouncil.nz

South Island – Kathy Reilly kathy.reilly@xtra.co.nz

The numbers of books produced will depend on how members wish to participate and will be sorted out when we have the final number of those taking part.

Paper will be sent out in late March. Printed pages to be returned at a date decided by each coordinator, as will the binding date, but will allow plenty of time for you to print your edition.

Participants need to be committed to the completion of this project and meet the deadlines organised by each co-ordinator. There will be a small fee of $30 to cover the cost of the paper and binding materials. Please pay that now when you register.

Some important points to note: The book will be about A5 landscape, with a left-hand margin for the binding. The letter for the page needs to be part of the page design – either separate or part of the main image. Inks used must not bleed or mark the other pages in the book – that is, no Akua ink as it does not dry satisfactorily for bookbinding. No encaustic wax. No chunky or thick collage or stitching threads. Thin thread or tissue will be acceptable additions.

To express your interest in this project please email Di info@printcouncil.nz with the information given below.

When you email Di please include the following:

ABC Bestiary Book Collaborative Project 2022: Entry Information

  • Name

  • Postal Address for us to send blank pages

  • Email and phone number (for coordinator to use)

  • Area for coordinator allocation (Auckland/Northland; or rest of North Island; or South Island)

  • Whether you have paid the $30 online to PCANZ 03 0791 0387378 00

  • A comment on your intentions relating to workshop attendance