Blowing in a new era exhibition

For five weeks in Winter 2025, McClelland Gallery + Sculpture Park in Langwarrin exhibited more than 130 pieces of Gordon-Donaldson glass art to celebrate intergenerational artists on the Mornington Peninsula and mark the milestone launch of the family’s book.

The book Blowing In A New Era: Three Generations, One Family tells the story of our family’s place in global glass art, and art in general. From Alasdair Gordon meeting his life partner Rish Roddan while specialising in glass engraving in 1954; to their grandsons Hamish and Calum Donaldson winning art prizes in 2025, the book maps incredible skill and modern craft against the backdrop of an ancient art.

Eileen said “This book marks a moment in time; recording the incredible glass journey our family is on. Mum and Dad (Alasdair and Rish) moved from England, Kenya and Scotland to Norway and Australia, following opportunities in art – with my brother Kevin and I exploring our own artistic avenues in glass. Our boys, their grandsons, Hamish and Calum have that love for glass in their veins as they forge their own styles and careers in the medium. I am extremely proud of the story and the way this book tells it.”

Comprising seven members across three generations, the Gordon-Donaldson family of engravers and glassblowers prove that glass has a continued stature within the modern canvas of artisan practice. 

The book was officially launched on Saturday 5th July at McClelland Sculpture Park & Gallery in the Elisabeth Murdoch Gallery, with more than 200 people in attendance. Its 214 pages map the medium’s journey from 5,000 years ago to today, featuring each of the seven artists “in conversation” and photographs of some of their finest – and award-winning – works.

McClelland Artistic and Executive Director Lisa Byrne said: "We’re proud to showcase a talented local family who’ve been honing their craft just 30 kilometres from McClelland for 23 years. This exhibition highlights the connection between the McClelland and Gordon families, celebrating intergenerational artists on the Mornington Peninsula and the launch of their beautiful new book."

Scott Chaseling, who wrote the introduction to this book and spoke at its McClelland Gallery launch, said: “The Gordon family’s story is one of adaptation and growth, of blending old-world craftsmanship with new-world innovation. But more than that, it is a story of love – love for their craft, for each other, and for the community that embraced them. This book delves into the lives of the Gordon-Donaldson family, exploring their artistic journey, their personal triumphs and challenges, and the indelible mark they are leaving on their community. It is a celebration of art, family, and the beautiful life that they continue to weave together in Australia.”

As one of the most celebrated studio glass families still active today, the Gordon Studio Glassblowers present years of creativity, infinite patience, and unique work to the world of art.

The book is available online here, at the Gordon Studio Glassblowers Red Hill Gallery and Studio, and in the McClelland Design Store, as well as Tarrawarra Gift Shop and The Jam Factory.