A stunning installation in one of Glasgow's most picturesque churches is bringing the city's residents face to face with a beautiful miniature replica of the planet Earth suspended in the air.
The incredible artwork is named after the Greek Goddess of Earth, Gaia, and was created by artist Luke Jerram. It is being displayed in Charles Rennie Mackintosh's only-built church, Mackintosh Queens Cross on Garscube Road.
The three-dimensional floating globe is six metres in diameter and features 120dpi detailed NASA imagery of the Earth's surface and is designed to be a scale representation 2.1 millionth the size of the real Earth and each centimetre of the internally lit sculpture describing 21km of the Earth’s actual surface.
READ NEXT: New Glasgow Wetherspoons moves a step closer after licence changes agreed
By standing 181m away from the artwork, the public will be able to see the Earth as it appears from the moon.
The event is part of the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society's 50th anniversary at its home at Queen’s Cross.
The visitor attraction will host a series of events under Gaia including concerts, talks and film nights.
The CRM Society's 50th-anniversary events:
May 26 – A talk on Disappearing Glasgow by Chris Leslie, the acclaimed Glasgow-based photographer and filmmaker is celebrated as the most consistent chronicler of the city’s recent history.
May 31 – 'Lost Map under Gaia' will showcase music from the record label, Lost Map, based on the Isle of Eigg. Acts performing are Amy May Ellis (full band); Pictish Trail (solo); L.T. Leif and Lost Map DJs.
June 15 – cult Scottish folk favourite, Siobhan Wilson, will perform songs from her new double album: “Recording Of Myself In A Room Of My Own” and “Seeing With Music In Nature”.
June 16 and 17 – There will be two Glasgow Jazz Festival concerts – on Friday 16th June, Sunna Gunnlaugs (solo piano) and Fergus McCreadie (solo piano) will perform together and on Saturday 17th June it’s Grappelli Night with Seonaid Aitken Quintet. Award-winning violinist Seonaid pays tribute to her French Jazz violin hero, Stephane Grappelli to mark 25 years since his passing and 30 years since his last performance at the festival.
A series of Film Nights under Gaia will take place and films on the programme including:
Monday, June 5 – Koyaanisqatsi - a 1982 American experimental non-narrative film directed and produced by Godfrey Reggio with music composed by Philip Glass and cinematography by Ron Fricke.
Tuesday, June 6 – Under the Skin - a 2013 science fiction directed by Jonathan Glazer, loosely based on the 2000 novel by Michael Faber.
Wednesday, June 7 – Comfort & Joy – a 1984 Scottish comedy film written and directed by Bill Forsyth and starring Bill Paterson as a radio disc jockey whose life undergoes a bizarre upheaval after his girlfriend leaves him.
Thursday, June 8 – Glasgow School of Art films and Small Faces - a 1996 Scottish drama film directed by Gilles Mackinnon about gangs in 1960s Glasgow.
Speaking about the lineup of events, director of the CRM Society, Stuart Robertson, said: “We’re thrilled to unveil the magnificent Gaia installation and welcome visitors to see this stunning spectacle and enjoy our exciting 50th-anniversary events. We have a packed programme of exhibitions, concerts, talks and film nights under Gaia. Whether you’ve been to Mackintosh Queen’s Cross before, or are visiting for the first time, we look forward to welcoming you. Thanks to Hugh Fraser Foundation and Northwest Partnership for funding this project.”
Tickets for Gaia and other events as listed above, are on sale through Eventbrite at mackintosh.eventbrite.co.uk.
READ MORE:
Glasgow set for exciting new African-inspired restaurant in Scottish debut
Glasgow's Savoy nightclub 'sticky carpet' memento as reveller takes home piece as doormat
Mother Hubbard's opens first Glasgow fish and chip shop at the Quay
The island distillery easily accessible from Glasgow that Star Wars star Ewan McGregor loves
