Gordon Studio Glass lights up Peter Mac Centre

A new glass art installation at The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne is bringing fresh light and colour to patients, visitors and staff.

With three generations of glass artists practising the ancient craft of glassblowing in Red Hill on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, the Gordon-Donaldson family has worked with former employee and friend Andrea Comerford to bring the installation to life – in addition to donating work from a recent glassblowing convention.

“This is the first time that patients, staff and visitors at The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre have had the opportunity to enjoy glass art on display,” said Andrea Comerford, who organised fundraising campaigns for more than five years to make the collection possible.

Andrea suffers from Multiple Myeloma, a cancer of plasma cells and has been treated at the Peter MacCallum Centre for the past eight years. While working at the Gordon Studio Gallery, Eileen and Grant’s work increased her love for glass and glassblowing. 

“Glass is so different to every other art medium,” Comerford explained.

“And Peter Mac Art Curator Svetlana Karovich was so happy to be able to add Grant and Eileen’s beautiful work to the collection. The colours and shapes just take art to a new dimension.”

The Centre won a grant from the Victorian Government through the Community Support Fund to purchase specialist cabinets to protect the glass from dust and damage. 

“We’re extremely proud to have our work on display,” said Grant Donaldson and Eileen Gordon.

“It was a wonderful idea of Andrea’s, and she worked so hard to raise funds and make it happen.”

Among Andrea’s fundraising campaigns – in addition to generous donations from Friends of Gordon Studio Glassblowers – she sold candles made by a friend and organised movie nights to ensure this dream collaboration could materialise.

“Grant and Eileen work so hard,” said Andrea.

“They deserve all the recognition they get for their amazing talent and dedication. I worked at Gordon Studio Glassblowers two days a week for 12 years in addition to my job as a nurse – it’s my happy place. I always left with a smile after a day talking to customers about the ancient craft and polishing the glass. It’s so tactile; it rejuvenates energy.”

“I was blown away by the donations – everybody was so generous.”

Grant and Eileen, who blow glass with their sons Hamish and Calum and were influenced by Eileen’s parents Alasdair and Rish, also donated the work created at a convention they recently hosted. The theme of the International Year of Glass convention hosted by the Gordon Studio Glassblowers was ‘goblets’, with some of the most talented glassblowers across Australia getting together to collaborate.

“We originally planned to auction the goblets off,” said Eileen.

“But we felt the humour and energy of the goblets will generate great entertainment, smiles and laughter at The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.”  

The whole collection is on display on level two at Peter MacCallum’s Parkville headquarters – next to outpatient pathology.

“It’s close to the waiting room, café, pharmacy and pathology – so thousands of people will be able to enjoy the magic,” said Andrea.

“When we were there installing the glass, people were really excited as they were walking past. It’s so special.”