I went down something of an Instagram rabbit hole this week. For some people it's watching cooking or pots being made. For me it's been bookbinding.
So meditative, many craft elements are combined. There's sewing, box building, marbling, gold foiling, collaging, leathering, printing to name a few. And as for the book: there's the cover, spine, endpages, elegant slip cases and many different papers, .
Bookbinding today is a are but lively profession and a pastime that quietly covers everything from repairing and housing your old bible, first edition or family cookbook to creating creative scrapbooks and more sculptural artist books.
From the 12th to 14th of September, New Zealand's Association of Book Crafts are hosting Bind 25 in Tāmaki Makarau, Auckland, the first time the Australasian conference has been in this country for for 11 years.
This week on Culture 101 we're joined by two key figures. Coming all the way from France is renowned bookbinder Ben Elbel, who runs a handmade bookbindery, after training at an internationally renowned school in Switzerland 'Centro del bel libro' .
Joining him with us, from the Hawkes Bay, is Terrie Reddish an artist, printer and bookbinder. Terrie uses restored tools and vintage equipment to create unique artists books.
