Jerwood Encounters: 3-Phase

About

3-Phase offers two early career artists the opportunity to make new work which will be exhibited through five new exhibitions across the collaborating galleries. Across the year-long programme, each artist will access ongoing curatorial and practical support from the partners.

Kelly Best’s practice is rooted in drawing, through which she unpicks the relationship between form, perspective, colour and void. At Jerwood Space, Kelly has reconfigured Velum, a large scale wall structure onto which the artist has realised a ten metre long pencil drawing. The curved, sculptural surface covered by the repeated gesture of a pale vertical line demonstrates a powerful perspectival effect. Its scale alters the space of the gallery and surrounds the viewer, while its enticing hand-drawn surface encourages closer observation.

Georgie Grace’s practice occupies a space somewhere between still and moving image. Her interest in the intangible quality of digital reading and the shifting surfaces of the screen are questioned through her silent film works comprising found imagery and text. At Jerwood Space, Georgie presents a new edit of the machine is almost pure magic. The film seamlessly knits together grainy, monochrome stills though a text narration; a contemporary voice that speaks of aspiration, desire and utopian ideals – but also their perils. This complex constellation of curious and anxiety filled imagery draws upon ideas put forward by futurologists and technological entrepreneurs.

Applications for Jerwood Encounters: 3-Phase were sought through Eastside Projects’ Extra Special People associates scheme and g39’s Wales Artist Resource Programme (WARP). Kelly Best and Georgie Grace were selected from more than 90 applications. The first phase consisted of two solo exhibitions which took place at Eastside Projects from January to March 2015. Following this exhibition, each artist will develop a solo presentation with g39 in October and November 2015.

“As more artists develop careers in a growing number of art scenes around the UK it is vital that projects such as ‘3-Phase’ exist. We have been able to bring together three dynamic enabling organisations who share a commitment to art and artistic practice as a valuable and useful part of society, and ‘3-Phase’ is a concentrated effort to commission two artists to make the most of their potential. We are really proud to be working with Kelly and Georgie to share their unique visions.” 

Gavin Wade, Director, Eastside Projects

“As a litmus test of the quality and breadth of artists’ ideas, we left the selection process feeling invigorated and excited. Kelly and Georgie’s work stood out for the rigour and careful articulation of their ideas. It was also clear to the panel the speed with which their practice has been developing and deepening to date. With the support and resources of this project we hope to be able to accelerate this still further.” 

Shonagh Manson, Director, Jerwood Charitable Foundation

Exhibition Dates...

Kelly Best
31 January - 28 February 2015
Eastside Projects, Birmingham

Georgie Grace
7 March - 11 April 2015
Eastside Projects, Birmingham

Kelly Best
2 October - 31 October 2015
g39, Cardiff

Georgie Grace 
13 November – 12 December 2015
g39, Cardiff