Raven Rave - Gone With The Wind private viewers take it outside. picture: Michele Draseck

After the Aftermath the CHELSEA space team needed a lift so we headed east to Raven Row for the private view of Gone With The Wind a new exhibition on the theme of sound with Max Eastley, Takehisa Kosugi, Walther Marchetti, and Resonance FM. Within the exhibition Resonance has curated a group of artists through an open submission and invitation process and CHELSEA space were particularly keen to see a new work by Rosie Farrell entitled Record with the Sound of its Own Making (after Robert Morris). The piece does exactly as the title says - a ‘dub plate’ vinyl record plays on a black turntable on an MDF plinth which is also a speaker cabinet from which can be heard the sound of the record as it was being cut.

Rosie Farrell 'Record with the Sound of its Own Making (after Robert Morris)

Its a terrific self reflexive piece and the deep blacks of the vinyl, plastic deck, and rubber speaker edges work superbly against the MDF making it materially, as well as conceptually, very satisfying.

Rosie Farrell 'Record with the Sound of its Own Making (after Robert Morris) -detail. photo Michele Draseck

We saw lots of old friends and colleagues including writer Michael Archer, artist, curator, and founder of City Racing, Matt Hale, and musician and writer David Toop. Matt Hale is currently involved in Beyond the Ambit at Project/Number which, amongst others, also includes our friends Ami Clarke and Kaavous Clayton and concerns artists who also run spaces. The brilliant David Toop worked at CHELSEA space for two days on a new improvised work for laptop, vibraphone, and flute as part of CHELSEA space #7 Rehearsing/Samuel Beckett and was subsequently involved in the exhibition 3 Things, curated by Donald smith for RUN in 2007.

David Toop 'Embers' a two day improvisation at CHELSEA space 2007

curator Michele Draseck with artist Debra Welch in front of Max Eastley's work at Raven Row

artists Debra Welch and Mike Iveson warm up against Walther Marchetti's 'Musica da Camera 182'

When we saw Walther Marchetti’s grand piano we were reminded of Raven Row Director Alex Sainsbury’s time as part of the curatorial collective Rear Window and the excellent piece of work by Mark Wallinger for their exhibition/installation Every Now and Then 1994 at Richard Salmon’s studios/galleries in South Edwardes Square, London.

Mark Wallinger Untitled 1994 from 'Every Now And Then' curated by Rear Window

Wallinger’s piece was set in the studio where Derek Jarman made his last paintings assisted by Carl Lydon. Around the walls were hung all of the blank canvases which were never painted, on the window seat all of Jarman’s painting materials were laid out whilst his signature blue overalls were slumped across his favourite old blue armchair. In the middle of the room stood a grand piano whilst the sound of a piano being tuned filled the room. The blank canvases and the sound of the piano tuning seemed to evoke every great artwork yet to be made and was a subtle and elegant tribute to Derek Jarman who’s restless and provocative energy is much missed.

Keith Collins 'Garden at Prospect Cottage with Power Station and Mist

Jarman’s garden is evoked in a beautiful series of photographs of the early morning mist on Dungeness taken by Keith Collins which will feature in H2O, Donald Smith’s next curatorial project at our sister gallery, Chelsea Futurespace. This group show opens on 19th July but one of the artists featured, Richard Elliott, is currently showing a brilliant series of watercolours at Jane Newbery Gallery, 33 Dulwich Village.

Richard Elliiot 'Sea Dawn' -watercolour

Whilst Richard Elliott will be showing his signature watercolours of architecture and seascapes at Jane Newbery Gallery, he is also known for his photography, sculpture, and video work and was recently included in Fraternize at Beaconsfield and also at Hannah Barry Gallery at Peckham Car Park and he has previously shown at such galleries as Essor, London, and Diaboll, New Orleans. Visit his show in Dulwich Village or alternatively see more of his work at http://elliottfortnum.wordpress.com

Richard Elliott 'Eltham Palace'