Nottingham Trent University
Specialisms: Textiles - Mixed Media / Textiles for Interiors / Textile Innovation/Textile Art
Location: Nottingham, United Kingdom
First Name: Betsy
Last Name: Ballisch
Specialisms: Textiles - Mixed Media / Textiles for Interiors / Textile Innovation/Textile Art
Sectors:
My Location: Nottingham, United Kingdom
University / College: Nottingham Trent University
Course / Program Title: Fashion Knitwear Design & Knitted Textiles BA Hons
Growing up with the struggles of being neurodivergent, something that I still struggle with into adulthood, creativity was a positive escape and an outlet for me to connect with myself. As a child, i was constantly being labelled as 'different' from my peers, something I used to take as a negative. Studying a creative subject has made me so thankful to be 'different' and have a brain that views everyday differently to everyone else. I use my work to portray what's running through my mind, communicating my thoughts and feelings through textile arts.
‘When I Grow Up’ aims to explore the innocence of childhood and the nostalgic memories lost to time. I am a final year BA (Hons) Knitwear student. However, I have developed an interest over my time at NTU in community arts and how children and young people benefit from unrestricted access to creative subjects. In my final year, I have been exploring my own childhood and how creativity helped me to grow and guide myself through my neurodivergent brain. Throughout my products are personal objects that carry memories of simpler times and pieces that honour the family members who have supported me throughout my life. It was also important to me to implement crafts I did as a child, with the use of melty beads, knit, crochet, and beading.