Elspeth Penfold

Elspeth (Billie) Penfold is a textile artist who brings her experience of teaching and research into performative work. In 2012 she formed the arts group Thread and Word. Through call outs and personal invitation Elspeth works collaboratively with invited artists and academics to develop performative walks .These walks form part of exhibitions, festivals and community events. Elspeth is interested in exploring the relationship between walking, weaving and storytelling. She makes hand made ropes which are then offered to fellow walkers during the walks to knot as a memory aid of their walking experience.These ropes are then attached to hand woven straps which are fixed to Varas or poles. Each Vara then becomes an archive of the walk. At present there are 22 Varas representing the different walks undertaken over the last seven years.