Running with Thread

Running with Thread was created to connect two communities: visitors to Wardown House Museum in Luton and parkrun participants who run in the museum’s grounds. Using fitness trackers, three runners recorded data during the same 5km course, which became the basis for woven artworks. Each hanging’s width represents stride length, its length reflects the time taken to complete the run, translated as 5 cm of weaving per minute, and bold graphic patterns are drawn from heart rate graphs. Accompanying text pieces explain how running metrics were transformed into the language of textiles. The works were produced while Nicola Moody was Artist in Residence at the museum and were later showcased in a final exhibition, including a special Saturday opening for parkrun participants.