by Gino Ballantyne
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07 Jun, 2019
On the 13th June 2018 two days before the second fire which devastated the Mackintosh Building at Glasgow School of Art American pianist Maria Donahue performed a piece of music composed from Gino's drawings during her concert at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. The composition was based on the drawings taken from Gino's artist book "45 Drawings GsofA "Sound" 2016"
A book of indian ink drawings based on the sounds emitted from the iconic Mackintosh Building as it began to realise a new chapter in its existence. Gino spent two years as a Visiting Artistwith GSofA making drawings, sculpture, prints and an installation about the organic and inorganic sound of the Mackintosh as it was being revived. In addition Gino began an artist residency with the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland where he made small and large improvised performance drawings representing a sound portrait of RCS. Collaboration with the pianist Maria Donahue led to his drawings of the Mackintosh being realised as musical compositions. For Gino, Maria's performance signalled the return of the Mackintosh as a creative force.
Ironically another fire began to rage at GSofA late Friday June 2018. It would turn out to be more devastating than the last. Gino became aware of the fire on the 16th June while Festival Artist at the Buckingham Literary Festival 2018, he was preparing to draw Lady Antonia Fraser and Sir Anthony Seldon when he was asked by a journalist, "What did you think of the fire which completely devastated the Mackintosh building at Glasgow School of Art last night?" Realising the journalist meant a new fire Gino was immediately shocked and saddened. He had no reply.