CRESTVIEW — The art of bookbinding dates back centuries, but a group of modern book artists has an exhibit of their contemporary works on display locally through October.
Members of The Experimental Artists Book Arts Guild, who call their group TeaBAG, showcase their creativity in the Crestview Public Library’s lobby display cases.
"They've got some really pretty books in there," TeaBAG member Mary Richardson, of Baker, said.
Richardson belongs to two regional, loosely affiliated bookbinding groups in Pensacola and Panama City, respectively. Each group meets monthly to practice their craft.
"Somebody will bring in something they made and we'll think it's real cool and say, 'Would you teach that to us?'" Richardson said.
Richardson became involved in bookbinding after taking a course at Gulf Coast State College in Panama City. After a couple semesters, some of the students formed TeaBAG.
Some of the bindings on exhibit at the Crestview library include star books, accordion folds and flat books with leaves that open into various shapes and directions, she said.
"(When) somebody finds a new technique, we try to learn it and teach it or get somebody who knows how to do it (to) come teach us," Richardson said. "Mostly everybody's just teaching each other. It's a lot of fun. It keeps us out of trouble."
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Bookbinders guild exhibit showcases art that binds