Grant Donaldson

Born in Australia in 1959, Grant started out working on the land. He earned an understanding and respect for the cycles of life and the rhythm of the seasons, fascinated by how plants and animals fit into the environment by evolving and surviving . While farming, Grant met Eileen Gordon and saw glassblowing for the first time. In his words, “I Fell into a Burning Ring of Fire”. In 1994 after devastating droughts and floods, Grant moved from farming to full time glassblowing. Grant then joined the Gordon family of glass artists and developed the skills to be able to express his ideas. Grant loves the physical and mental challenge of working with molten glass, and the thrill of creating works that show who he is and where he has been.

1981 - Diploma of Farm Management, Marcus Oldham Farm Management College.
1982-88 - Farm Manager on various properties in NSW, Vic, and Tasmania.

1988 - Bought a Dairy Farm, Numurkah, Vic.
1990 - Assisted partner, Eileen Gordon, to establish ‘Gordon Studio Glassblowers’, Numurkah, Vic.
1994- Sold Farm & relocated ‘Gordon Studio Glassblowers’ to Rosebud Vic. Full time Glassblowing, developing own production line and exhibition glassware.

Exhibitions:

1996 - Sea in Glass, Peninsula Galleries, Sorrento, Vic.
1997 -,The Gordon Family, Glass Artist Gallery, Glebe, NSW. Group Show, Arica Gallery, Nedlands, WA
1998 - Without Pier, Family Exhibit, Sandringham, Vic.
1999 - Azecra Kimono Dept. Store, Osaka, Japan.
Munich International Craft Fair, Germany.
Interior DesignEx Show, Melbourne, Vic.
2000 - Translucence, Johnstone Gallery Revisited, Brisbane, Qld.
2001 - Munich International Trade Fair, Munich, Germany.
Without Pier, Sandringham, Vic.
Ausglass Conference, Members Exhibition, Melbourne
Commissioned for 16 Vases for the CHOGM Candidates.
SOFA – Chicago, USA.
2002 - Commissioned for 3 vases for Crown Casino, Melbourne.
Munich International Craft Fair, Germany
SOFA – Chicago, USA The Journey. Eileen Gordon and Grant Donaldson, Skepsi on Swanston, Melbourne, Vic.
2003 - Ausglass Members Show
2005 - Members Exhibition, GAS Conference, Adelaide
2006 - Land, Collaboration with painter Mike Green,
Lauraine Diggins Fine Art, Melbourne.
The Gordon family, Kirra Gallery, Melbourne
Without Pier beyond, Seaview Gallery, Queenscliff
2007 - Glass is Oxygen, without Pier Gallery, Cheltenham.
Outback and beyond, Seaview Gallery, Queenscli...