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Throw sand, lime and soda
into a 2,000 degree Fahrenheit furnace,
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00:00:11,929 --> 00:00:14,140
and you get liquid glass.
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Skilled glassblowers gather
the molten mixture using hollow pipes.
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And when they blow,
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glass inflates to form a bubble
to shape and sculpt.
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The tools and techniques
date back to Roman times,
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but we're about to
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turn up the heat.
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We're back at North America's
largest hot shop
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to watch ten exceptional artists…
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…fight fire with fire.
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And now the fun begins.
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Go big or go home.
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And with great risk…
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-Oh, God.
-Rest on the bench. Rest on the bench!
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-I always come out swinging.
-…comes great reward.
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Yeah, baby!
-Whoo!
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If they can survive
our fiery competition,
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they'll win a life-changing prize package
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that will establish them
around the globe as Best in Glass.
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I'm Nick Uhas. Prepare to be Blown Away.
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Glassblowers, welcome back
to the hot shop.
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Coming into this next challenge,
I'm just trying to do my best.
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And hopefully
it's better than the worst person.
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It's not gonna be easy.
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Now that there's five of us,
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it is real in the sense
that, hey, you're gettin' closer.
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Seeing the light at the end of the tunnel,
only one of us can take this.
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For centuries, artists like Degas,
Renoir, Matisse,
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have been inspired
by the circus and its bright colors,
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bold patterns, and big personalities.
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One of those great artists,
as I'm sure you know,
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is Venetian Maestro Pino Signoretto,
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and his amazingly-crafted glass clowns.
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Pino Signoretto is one of the godfathers
of glass sculpting, I would say.
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His series of clowns have
so much movement and emotion in them.
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They're really incredibly sculpted.
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Uh, definitely not making a clown.
I don't like clowns.
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For this challenge,
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we want you to take the over-the-top
energy found under the big top
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and create a circus-themed piece of art.
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To help Katherine evaluate your work
is aerial acrobat
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and circus company owner, Miranda Tempest.
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Seeing the guest evaluator,
she just looks so lively.
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And I love what she does for a living.
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The circus and the hot shop are
all about taking risks
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and creating a spectacle.
48
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Plus, we both get to play with fire.
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You wanna play with fire? So do we.
50
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Dancing with fire,
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even though
it's about five feet away from us,
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you can still feel the heat coming off.
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That kinda makes
us glass artists right at home.
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All I can think is that
she's about to catch her hair on fire.
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For this challenge,
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we will be evaluating you
on design, concept and technical skill.
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The winner of the challenge
will be named Best in Blow
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and will receive the very last advantage
of the competition.
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-Oh, nice.
-Okay.
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I want the advantage,
but really I just want a win right now.
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I just-- I-- I need a win.
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The artist
that does not blow us away
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will be shedding the tears of a clown,
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and asked to leave the hot shop.
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Glassblowers, you have
four and a half hours for this challenge.
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Your time starts… now.
67
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I love this challenge.
68
00:03:41,013 --> 00:03:45,685
I'm making a bearded dragon,
which is also a bearded lady.
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This is paying homage to Annie Jones,
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who is one of the most famous
bearded ladies in history.
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She advocated for shifting the norms
about what is considered a freak.
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00:04:00,574 --> 00:04:03,035
What I'm making is a seal.
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00:04:03,119 --> 00:04:05,538
It's on a pedestal,
and it's jumping through a ring of fire.
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00:04:05,621 --> 00:04:09,375
The ring of fire symbolizes hoops
that we all have to jump through.
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Everyone that came here
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00:04:10,584 --> 00:04:12,753
had to jump through
a lot of hoops to get here.
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And we sacrificed a lot to be here.
78
00:04:14,964 --> 00:04:16,424
Yeah, I left my girlfriend back home.
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That's not easy.
80
00:04:18,259 --> 00:04:21,470
But she's my number-one supporter,
and she wants me to win.
81
00:04:21,554 --> 00:04:24,390
Until then, I'm just trying
to make it to the next challenge.
82
00:04:25,933 --> 00:04:28,060
I'm making a walrus named Walter.
83
00:04:28,144 --> 00:04:31,230
He's auditioning for the circus,
but things aren't going super well.
84
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He keeps popping the balls
85
00:04:32,565 --> 00:04:34,400
that he's supposed to be balancing
on his head.
86
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He's gonna be really cute.
87
00:04:35,818 --> 00:04:38,154
You know, it's the circus,
it should be fun. Kind of…
88
00:04:38,237 --> 00:04:40,197
You know, it'll be good.
89
00:04:41,741 --> 00:04:44,535
I'm gonna make a clown of sorts,
but it's in the bear form.
90
00:04:44,618 --> 00:04:47,204
I've definitely got some bear in me,
if you know what I mean.
91
00:04:47,705 --> 00:04:49,290
It's just like the Russian dancing bear.
92
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He'll have a small fez cap
on top of his head.
93
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Ever the performer.
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00:04:53,169 --> 00:04:57,548
As artists we take a lot of risks
and expose ourselves publicly,
95
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and we bare
a little bit of ourselves to the audience.
96
00:05:02,428 --> 00:05:05,431
When I thought about the circus,
I thought about the political circus.
97
00:05:05,514 --> 00:05:09,226
I'm gonna make a clown-inspired elephant.
98
00:05:09,310 --> 00:05:12,897
The elephant has an orange toupee
and it has orange face paint.
99
00:05:13,689 --> 00:05:15,900
Take from it what you will.
100
00:05:18,027 --> 00:05:20,154
All right, so the theme is "circus."
101
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-Here we go.
-Here goes nothin'.
102
00:05:22,573 --> 00:05:25,576
So it's gonna be a lot of bits,
a lot of flashing.
103
00:05:26,202 --> 00:05:28,746
-We'll make a walrus. His name's Walter.
-Love it.
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-Whoo!
105
00:05:35,378 --> 00:05:37,421
Now we're gonna sweat.
106
00:05:45,930 --> 00:05:49,975
I think if I was a circus performer,
I would like to do the human cannonball.
107
00:05:50,059 --> 00:05:52,228
That would be awesome,
like, flying through the air.
108
00:05:52,311 --> 00:05:53,312
Mm…
109
00:05:53,396 --> 00:05:56,107
I think he's too small to be a cannonball.
110
00:05:57,191 --> 00:06:00,736
I would want
to work with an exotic animal,
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like a tiger or a lion.
112
00:06:03,864 --> 00:06:05,324
Get back in there.
113
00:06:06,325 --> 00:06:08,786
Minhi's the only one
that could pull off the trapeze.
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00:06:08,869 --> 00:06:10,496
Looking good, Minhi!
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00:06:13,040 --> 00:06:15,000
-Excuse me?
-Hey! Whoa-ho!
116
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Oh no, my girlfriend's watchin'.
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00:06:20,756 --> 00:06:23,509
There's moments
where the hot shop is like a circus.
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We have to be quick, think on our feet,
and we get to play with fire.
119
00:06:27,596 --> 00:06:31,475
Miranda, what is it that you like
about working with fire specifically?
120
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I mean, the work itself
is pretty inherently thrilling,
121
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and yet,
as literally combustible as it is,
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it's actually quite predictable
in how it behaves.
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00:06:41,777 --> 00:06:43,821
That really is
a lot like glassblowing,
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using the heat
to work its magic with the material
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is something that
glassblowers do all the time.
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Yes, that's the shape I want.
127
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We're, like, playing with fire,
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and we're juggling this molten material.
129
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I-- I think we all belong
in the freak show.
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00:07:00,546 --> 00:07:03,466
Uh, starting with the bear,
the dancing bear.
131
00:07:04,675 --> 00:07:08,971
I'm making a circus bear
dancing on a ball, wearing a fez cap,
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and crying.
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Miranda, so I feel like
every kid sort of, like, has this
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00:07:13,976 --> 00:07:17,313
fantasy of, like, running away from home
and joining the circus.
135
00:07:17,396 --> 00:07:19,106
So, what's that like?
136
00:07:19,190 --> 00:07:22,943
Sometimes touring can be
a bit on the lonely side.
137
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But the nice thing about the circus,
the community will have your back.
138
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Oh, my gosh,
that is totally another parallel.
139
00:07:29,658 --> 00:07:31,744
You know,
artists are rooting for each other.
140
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Even in this competitive environment,
they all want to see each other succeed.
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I want to win, and they want to win,
but we don't want to beat each other.
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-Looking good.
-Thanks, man.
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Glassblowers are supportive of each other
because, you know, it's a team sport.
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So I am making
the head of the elephant right now.
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I'll add the trunk later.
146
00:07:56,810 --> 00:07:58,979
We're gonna make the bow tie.
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Putting a nice, big bow tie
right on Walter's chest.
148
00:08:01,524 --> 00:08:03,567
Do bow ties have anything in the middle?
149
00:08:04,527 --> 00:08:06,737
I've never tied one, I only do clip-on.
150
00:08:06,820 --> 00:08:10,533
Katherine, typically I'd ask you
what you would do for this challenge,
151
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but, as I sort of understand,
you've already been there and done that.
152
00:08:15,371 --> 00:08:16,455
A little bit.
153
00:08:16,539 --> 00:08:20,459
My best friend and I collaborated
on a body of work based around clowns.
154
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How do you bring the circus to life
with your work?
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00:08:23,337 --> 00:08:26,006
Color is extremely important.
156
00:08:26,090 --> 00:08:29,009
I would expect to see
these artists use a lot of it.
157
00:08:29,093 --> 00:08:32,012
You know, Olympic Color Rod
has provided this hot shop
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with frit and powder and bar.
159
00:08:34,598 --> 00:08:37,101
-No clowning around.
-No clowning around. Nope.
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00:08:39,979 --> 00:08:40,813
Awesome.
161
00:08:45,067 --> 00:08:46,902
Aw, that's not bad.
162
00:08:46,986 --> 00:08:49,405
I figured I'd start off
with a ring of fire.
163
00:08:49,488 --> 00:08:51,240
I've never made a ring before.
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00:08:51,323 --> 00:08:55,536
I had my assistant bring a bit
of orange glass,
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00:08:55,619 --> 00:08:58,747
and I wrap it on the ring
to kinda create some flames.
166
00:08:58,831 --> 00:09:00,082
Gotta be really careful.
167
00:09:00,165 --> 00:09:02,710
It's really fragile,
and if you air it too long,
168
00:09:02,793 --> 00:09:04,003
it can create stress cracks.
169
00:09:04,086 --> 00:09:05,796
Don't have time to make a new one.
170
00:09:16,807 --> 00:09:19,435
We're gonna be
racing against the clock, dude.
171
00:09:19,518 --> 00:09:21,937
I see Dan's bear is
really coming together.
172
00:09:22,021 --> 00:09:24,148
It's a motif that Dan has used before
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as a representation
of his indigenous culture.
174
00:09:26,567 --> 00:09:28,235
So he might have
a little bit of a leg up
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in being able to make a bear
pretty well and pretty quickly.
176
00:09:31,655 --> 00:09:33,991
He's dancing for his dinner,
just like me.
177
00:09:34,658 --> 00:09:36,493
Is the bear me? No. I'm not the bear.
178
00:09:36,577 --> 00:09:38,662
But I-- You know,
I definitely have bearlike qualities.
179
00:09:38,746 --> 00:09:41,290
My family,
the Children of the Setting Sun,
180
00:09:41,373 --> 00:09:44,335
are the descendants of Heiltsuk,
is a bear family.
181
00:09:44,418 --> 00:09:47,963
Well, you can see, I've been wearing
my bear necklace this whole time,
182
00:09:48,047 --> 00:09:50,924
and that's, uh,
the crest of our, uh, family.
183
00:09:51,008 --> 00:09:53,344
You know, always remember
where you come from.
184
00:09:55,971 --> 00:09:58,098
Ooh, those eyes look good.
185
00:09:58,182 --> 00:10:01,852
I am making a bearded dragon lady.
186
00:10:01,935 --> 00:10:04,647
Nice. Okay, we're ready for the lids.
187
00:10:04,730 --> 00:10:10,569
I'm thinking a lot about me being
the last female here in the competition.
188
00:10:10,653 --> 00:10:14,073
This piece challenges gender roles.
189
00:10:14,156 --> 00:10:18,369
A woman can have a beard,
a woman can work in a hot shop.
190
00:10:18,452 --> 00:10:20,704
But that doesn't make her
any less of a lady.
191
00:10:20,788 --> 00:10:22,414
I'm gonna shoot for the stars.
192
00:10:22,498 --> 00:10:24,458
I expect to miss, but sometimes I hit it.
193
00:10:26,043 --> 00:10:29,213
I'm working
on the flipper fins of the walrus.
194
00:10:29,296 --> 00:10:30,506
Flash.
195
00:10:30,589 --> 00:10:32,466
I'm not a full-time artist, I have a job.
196
00:10:33,050 --> 00:10:35,928
But I do have another side.
I do make artwork.
197
00:10:36,011 --> 00:10:39,473
To possibly have the opportunity now
to, like, be a full-time artist,
198
00:10:39,556 --> 00:10:43,477
especially if I win this whole thing,
that would be pretty life-changing.
199
00:10:44,186 --> 00:10:46,772
-I'm really excited about it.
-That's awesome.
200
00:10:46,855 --> 00:10:51,485
So I'm making a little elephant that has
kind of a political caricature to it.
201
00:10:51,568 --> 00:10:53,654
Right now I'm putting the eyeballs in
202
00:10:53,737 --> 00:10:56,365
and just giving a little bit
of, uh, texture in the eyes.
203
00:10:57,199 --> 00:10:59,743
It's all about the sculpting
in this challenge,
204
00:10:59,827 --> 00:11:02,287
and making sure
that I get the personality in there.
205
00:11:02,371 --> 00:11:04,832
Otherwise, the piece
doesn't really have much to say.
206
00:11:06,458 --> 00:11:07,710
It's gonna be the fake hair.
207
00:11:07,793 --> 00:11:10,587
So the hair, I'm layering
a couple different oranges and yellows
208
00:11:10,671 --> 00:11:12,131
to get, like, streaks in it.
209
00:11:12,214 --> 00:11:15,634
I'll heat it up and use a wire brush
to just scrape some, um, texture into it
210
00:11:15,718 --> 00:11:17,428
which will give it layering and depth.
211
00:11:17,511 --> 00:11:19,513
Yeah.
That's what we like to see.
212
00:11:19,596 --> 00:11:21,390
Hey, guys, we got two hours left!
213
00:11:22,141 --> 00:11:23,183
Two hours left!
214
00:11:23,767 --> 00:11:27,396
Struggle bus. Anyone need a lift?
There's a spot for everyone.
215
00:11:28,689 --> 00:11:31,817
I just need to get going
a little faster, I think.
216
00:11:38,866 --> 00:11:40,159
It's really interesting.
217
00:11:40,242 --> 00:11:44,079
John Sharvin's making a walrus,
and Trenton's making a seal.
218
00:11:44,163 --> 00:11:46,540
It's like, were they looking
at each other's notes?
219
00:11:46,623 --> 00:11:48,584
-What happened here?
-Right.
220
00:11:48,667 --> 00:11:52,171
There is a concern that, like,
John and I's pieces are kinda similar.
221
00:11:52,254 --> 00:11:55,507
Now we're just gonna add
a whole bunch of fat rolls to this guy.
222
00:11:56,467 --> 00:11:58,594
There's me and Trenton
that haven't won one yet.
223
00:11:58,677 --> 00:12:00,721
And that puts us in the bottom two.
224
00:12:01,722 --> 00:12:02,931
But in the end,
225
00:12:03,015 --> 00:12:07,186
this is a competition mainly
against yourself and what you can produce.
226
00:12:08,645 --> 00:12:10,522
Best flipper forward, for sure.
227
00:12:13,400 --> 00:12:15,194
Turn… Stop.
228
00:12:15,277 --> 00:12:18,655
Right now, I'm working on the pants.
So they're red and white striped pants.
229
00:12:18,739 --> 00:12:20,491
Kind of a little bit Uncle Sam-ish.
230
00:12:21,325 --> 00:12:24,495
I'm drawing stripes on the pants
with the red cane,
231
00:12:24,578 --> 00:12:28,373
because that's what's gonna give it
this, kind of, clown circus-y feel.
232
00:12:28,457 --> 00:12:29,708
When I thought of Uncle Sam,
233
00:12:29,792 --> 00:12:32,753
I immediately thought it's kind of like
this clown costume, in a way,
234
00:12:32,836 --> 00:12:35,130
and it would be perfect for the elephant.
235
00:12:35,214 --> 00:12:36,465
Okay, quick flash.
236
00:12:43,806 --> 00:12:46,308
Hi, Dan. You want to tell me
what you're workin' on?
237
00:12:46,391 --> 00:12:50,646
-Yeah, a dancing bear. Spelled "B-A-R-E."
238
00:12:50,729 --> 00:12:52,731
Baring your soul for the masses.
239
00:12:52,815 --> 00:12:54,775
Is that what you feel like
you're doing here?
240
00:12:54,858 --> 00:12:57,486
A little bit. You know,
you put a lot into these, uh, challenges.
241
00:12:57,569 --> 00:13:00,906
Every one of these challenges,
you really have to dig deep.
242
00:13:01,573 --> 00:13:03,158
The turnaround is really quick.
243
00:13:03,242 --> 00:13:05,786
That is really taxing on your creativity.
244
00:13:05,869 --> 00:13:10,082
Do you feel like you're becoming a better
artist here with all these challenges?
245
00:13:10,165 --> 00:13:11,959
Every time I get into the challenges,
246
00:13:12,042 --> 00:13:14,461
you peel away the layers
of the onion a little bit,
247
00:13:14,545 --> 00:13:17,005
-and a little more is revealed, I feel.
-Yeah.
248
00:13:17,631 --> 00:13:20,467
I haven't won a challenge
since the first challenge.
249
00:13:20,551 --> 00:13:22,427
I'm not gonna lie, I could use a win.
250
00:13:23,095 --> 00:13:25,222
But you gotta lose some to really want it.
251
00:13:25,305 --> 00:13:27,516
Hoo! I knew it was gonna be tight.
252
00:13:28,600 --> 00:13:31,812
Right now I'm making
some tusks for Walter.
253
00:13:33,856 --> 00:13:35,566
We're about to attach the beard.
254
00:13:37,609 --> 00:13:38,861
It makes me nervous
255
00:13:38,944 --> 00:13:42,322
because anytime you have bits
that are sticking out really far,
256
00:13:42,406 --> 00:13:43,991
it's fragile.
257
00:13:45,033 --> 00:13:46,952
Oh, boy. That's gonna be a problem.
258
00:13:47,536 --> 00:13:49,663
This glass can crack at any second,
259
00:13:49,746 --> 00:13:53,208
and if I'm not careful
then that's gonna be the end of me.
260
00:13:53,292 --> 00:13:54,626
That's my fear.
261
00:13:55,294 --> 00:13:56,253
I need a flash.
262
00:13:57,462 --> 00:13:58,297
Flip.
263
00:14:01,592 --> 00:14:02,467
Flip.
264
00:14:02,551 --> 00:14:05,345
It's a flipper, get it?
Yeah. All right, flash.
265
00:14:05,429 --> 00:14:06,972
One hour left, everyone!
266
00:14:07,055 --> 00:14:08,265
One hour!
267
00:14:09,558 --> 00:14:11,476
Ticktock, ticktock.
268
00:14:21,278 --> 00:14:22,446
Okay, flash.
269
00:14:23,614 --> 00:14:27,534
This competition
really takes a toll on everything.
270
00:14:27,618 --> 00:14:29,745
Emotionally, on my body.
271
00:14:29,828 --> 00:14:31,955
Must go on!
272
00:14:32,915 --> 00:14:34,499
You win and you have the next challenge.
273
00:14:34,583 --> 00:14:38,962
So you're constantly in this, like,
rotating emotional and mental place.
274
00:14:39,046 --> 00:14:40,881
It is very tough.
275
00:14:40,964 --> 00:14:43,967
Watching from home,
and you're like, "Yeah, I could do that."
276
00:14:44,051 --> 00:14:46,845
You get in there,
you're like, "Oh, I gotta do that."
277
00:14:47,429 --> 00:14:49,181
Let's get this done.
278
00:14:49,264 --> 00:14:52,643
I mean, honestly, part of me
wants to go home sometimes.
279
00:14:53,268 --> 00:14:54,686
All right, I'm sweating now.
280
00:14:54,770 --> 00:14:56,438
School of hard knocks, baby.
281
00:14:57,648 --> 00:14:59,316
-Lift. You got it?
-Yeah.
282
00:15:01,276 --> 00:15:03,403
Oh, flash. Flash, flash, flash, flash.
283
00:15:03,487 --> 00:15:05,572
All right, that's good.
284
00:15:06,198 --> 00:15:07,741
-Flip.
285
00:15:07,824 --> 00:15:09,534
Ooh! Nice catch.
286
00:15:15,165 --> 00:15:18,877
Artists, time is flying.
There's only 20 minutes left!
287
00:15:18,961 --> 00:15:20,170
Ah!
288
00:15:20,253 --> 00:15:21,463
Time to hustle.
289
00:15:29,388 --> 00:15:32,849
I am making the garment to the head.
290
00:15:32,933 --> 00:15:39,064
I only have 20 minutes to make
the apparel portion of the piece.
291
00:15:39,147 --> 00:15:42,401
It's go time.
I don't know if I'm gonna make it.
292
00:15:44,111 --> 00:15:45,487
Time is my only enemy.
293
00:15:45,570 --> 00:15:47,072
I still have to add the trunk,
294
00:15:47,155 --> 00:15:50,283
which is the last element
that brings the elephant to life,
295
00:15:50,367 --> 00:15:51,910
because now it looks really strange.
296
00:15:51,994 --> 00:15:53,954
But I'm definitely running out of time.
297
00:15:55,038 --> 00:15:56,873
I need you to flash
on this for me, please.
298
00:16:01,545 --> 00:16:03,880
All right, last flash.
I'll meet you over there.
299
00:16:03,964 --> 00:16:05,924
Ah! Dammit.
300
00:16:06,925 --> 00:16:08,969
All right, that'll have to do.
301
00:16:09,052 --> 00:16:12,597
Artists, there's five minutes left!
This is your five-minute warning!
302
00:16:12,681 --> 00:16:13,974
Ah!
303
00:16:14,641 --> 00:16:15,517
Ready?
304
00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:17,519
Just going slow and steady.
305
00:16:18,311 --> 00:16:19,187
Get under it.
306
00:16:20,439 --> 00:16:22,065
You got this. Take it.
307
00:16:24,234 --> 00:16:26,278
One, two, three, go. Yeah, beautiful.
308
00:16:26,903 --> 00:16:27,738
Take it.
309
00:16:28,905 --> 00:16:30,115
Here we go.
310
00:16:33,994 --> 00:16:35,245
Left side!
311
00:16:35,328 --> 00:16:36,663
Take a deep breath.
312
00:16:36,747 --> 00:16:38,081
Gently, gently, gently.
313
00:16:38,165 --> 00:16:39,541
Hell, yeah.
314
00:16:39,624 --> 00:16:41,001
-High-five.
-Nice.
315
00:16:41,084 --> 00:16:42,210
We got something done.
316
00:16:42,294 --> 00:16:43,170
Yeah, dude.
317
00:16:44,212 --> 00:16:45,714
-Whoo! Whoo!
-Whoo!
318
00:17:01,354 --> 00:17:04,691
For this challenge,
we had to create a piece
319
00:17:04,775 --> 00:17:07,235
that is inspired by the circus.
320
00:17:07,319 --> 00:17:10,655
I'm really thrilled
with how my piece turned out,
321
00:17:10,739 --> 00:17:13,408
but I don't control
what the evaluators think.
322
00:17:15,285 --> 00:17:17,829
As artists, we use our artwork
323
00:17:17,913 --> 00:17:20,540
to process things
that we're going through or thinking,
324
00:17:20,624 --> 00:17:22,876
and, uh, sharing a part
of yourself with people,
325
00:17:22,959 --> 00:17:24,169
for better or worse.
326
00:17:26,129 --> 00:17:28,465
Everyone in life
goes through challenges
327
00:17:28,548 --> 00:17:29,800
and has to jump through hoops.
328
00:17:29,883 --> 00:17:32,385
You know, you've just
gotta push on through
329
00:17:32,469 --> 00:17:34,262
and hope that you make it
to the other side.
330
00:17:35,514 --> 00:17:37,641
I hope that the evaluators
get the references.
331
00:17:37,724 --> 00:17:38,850
I hope it gives them a laugh.
332
00:17:38,934 --> 00:17:40,977
In the end,
it's not a specific political statement.
333
00:17:41,061 --> 00:17:43,855
It's-- It's kind of a-- a viewpoint
of politics in general.
334
00:17:45,023 --> 00:17:49,069
I hope the evaluators smile
and maybe see a bit of themselves in it.
335
00:17:49,152 --> 00:17:51,446
And, you know, art doesn't have to be
serious all the time.
336
00:17:51,530 --> 00:17:54,199
I-- I hope it
makes people happy, I guess. Yeah.
337
00:17:57,786 --> 00:17:59,496
Welcome to the fun house.
338
00:18:00,539 --> 00:18:02,833
This is John Sharvin's piece.
339
00:18:02,916 --> 00:18:06,586
-It's so good! Look how the skin looks.
-It's really great.
340
00:18:06,670 --> 00:18:08,880
He's done
a really great job on the walrus.
341
00:18:08,964 --> 00:18:11,550
And the little details
of the deflated balls,
342
00:18:11,633 --> 00:18:13,176
I think, look great too.
343
00:18:13,260 --> 00:18:18,181
When I think "circus," I don't necessarily
go to a place of the walrus.
344
00:18:18,265 --> 00:18:20,684
Do you think, perhaps,
that that's the whole point?
345
00:18:20,767 --> 00:18:23,687
Is that this animal doesn't fit in,
necessarily, to the circus?
346
00:18:23,770 --> 00:18:25,772
I mean,
this seems so representative
347
00:18:25,856 --> 00:18:29,025
of John Sharvin's tale
of just trying to become a glassblower,
348
00:18:29,109 --> 00:18:33,071
coming from an engineering background
and now succeeding as a glass artist.
349
00:18:33,155 --> 00:18:36,324
I do feel like there's something
that's really, really endearing
350
00:18:36,408 --> 00:18:37,784
about what he has here.
351
00:18:39,452 --> 00:18:41,538
This is Trenton's seal.
352
00:18:41,621 --> 00:18:43,373
"The ring represents the opposition
353
00:18:43,456 --> 00:18:46,126
that stands between us
and where we want to be."
354
00:18:46,209 --> 00:18:48,670
You know, I like the narrative
that he's implying here,
355
00:18:48,753 --> 00:18:50,547
the challenges and obstacles
356
00:18:50,630 --> 00:18:53,967
that you need to surpass
to get anywhere in life.
357
00:18:54,050 --> 00:18:56,887
I really love
the use of color in this one,
358
00:18:56,970 --> 00:18:59,347
the gradient of color in the seal.
359
00:18:59,431 --> 00:19:02,934
I just wish, maybe,
a little bit more time had been taken
360
00:19:03,018 --> 00:19:05,061
on the design of the ring and stand.
361
00:19:05,145 --> 00:19:07,397
I think
he did a nice job on the flames.
362
00:19:07,480 --> 00:19:12,110
The rest of the construction, I feel like,
seems a little rushed and not as careful.
363
00:19:12,194 --> 00:19:16,281
I'm very confused
why there's a spoon below the ring.
364
00:19:16,364 --> 00:19:17,365
Mm.
365
00:19:17,449 --> 00:19:18,909
Me too.
366
00:19:18,992 --> 00:19:21,411
So does this get your seal of approval?
367
00:19:24,080 --> 00:19:27,417
-You really dropped the ball on that pun.
-Oh, there we go.
368
00:19:29,920 --> 00:19:31,463
This is Dan's piece.
369
00:19:31,546 --> 00:19:35,634
It looks to me like
this is all, like, one piece of glass.
370
00:19:35,717 --> 00:19:37,969
The whole body is all one piece of glass.
371
00:19:38,053 --> 00:19:40,513
And then the balls
and the little fez are separate.
372
00:19:40,597 --> 00:19:42,515
But all attached hot, it looks like.
373
00:19:42,599 --> 00:19:45,602
-So, all done all at once in the hot shop.
-Wow.
374
00:19:45,685 --> 00:19:48,480
Technically,
that's a lot to be juggling.
375
00:19:48,563 --> 00:19:50,523
I probably could have
done without the tears.
376
00:19:50,607 --> 00:19:51,483
The tears?
377
00:19:52,275 --> 00:19:53,693
Oh, I didn't even see the tears.
378
00:19:53,777 --> 00:19:57,280
You know, I think there's already,
kind of, this sadness and poignancy
379
00:19:57,364 --> 00:19:59,157
about, you know, the bear with the hat,
380
00:19:59,241 --> 00:20:01,952
and having to dance and sing
for its supper, kind of thing.
381
00:20:02,035 --> 00:20:04,871
Maybe the tears
just are a little too heavy-handed?
382
00:20:07,332 --> 00:20:09,542
Time to talk
about the elephant in the room.
383
00:20:09,626 --> 00:20:11,544
This is John Moran's piece.
384
00:20:12,629 --> 00:20:16,549
I think I have a hunch
who he is referencing here.
385
00:20:16,633 --> 00:20:17,842
You don't say.
386
00:20:19,135 --> 00:20:21,846
The texture
in this piece is really great.
387
00:20:21,930 --> 00:20:25,809
Everything from, you know, the folds
in the elephant's skin, and the hair,
388
00:20:25,892 --> 00:20:29,271
the fabric of his
very rumpled Americana suit,
389
00:20:29,354 --> 00:20:33,233
does a lot to add
to, sort of, the overall vibe
390
00:20:33,316 --> 00:20:35,151
of, like, the political clown.
391
00:20:35,235 --> 00:20:37,529
He's really
outdone himself here.
392
00:20:37,612 --> 00:20:40,782
I think this closely aligns
with John Moran's work that he does.
393
00:20:40,865 --> 00:20:43,576
Always, you know, has, maybe,
a political message to it.
394
00:20:43,660 --> 00:20:47,664
Politics aside,
this is just a really well-done piece.
395
00:20:47,747 --> 00:20:49,624
I would agree. Yeah.
396
00:20:51,167 --> 00:20:54,421
This is Minhi's
bearded dragon lady.
397
00:20:54,504 --> 00:20:57,549
Bearded dragons are
some of my favorite, like, lizards.
398
00:20:57,632 --> 00:20:59,843
-Oh. Oh.
-Uh, they're very cute.
399
00:20:59,926 --> 00:21:02,387
The texture is really great.
400
00:21:02,470 --> 00:21:05,390
I'm not sure,
just from a purely aesthetic place,
401
00:21:05,473 --> 00:21:09,352
I'm a massive fan of the shapes
used in the beard.
402
00:21:09,436 --> 00:21:11,313
I do love the eyes, though.
403
00:21:11,396 --> 00:21:15,317
And just the general sculpting of the face
is really beautifully done.
404
00:21:15,400 --> 00:21:17,944
I'm not super crazy
about the look of the skirt.
405
00:21:18,028 --> 00:21:21,573
I feel like it's a little bit distracting,
maybe even a little bit overpowering.
406
00:21:21,656 --> 00:21:24,659
It takes some of your attention away
from the sculpting she's done on the head.
407
00:21:24,743 --> 00:21:27,996
I don't know,
I-- I-- I disagree with, like, everyone.
408
00:21:28,079 --> 00:21:29,998
-Oh, no. Okay.
-I think it's so great.
409
00:21:30,081 --> 00:21:32,625
The combination of texture and color…
410
00:21:32,709 --> 00:21:35,920
This skirt reminds me
of, like, a clown collar.
411
00:21:36,004 --> 00:21:38,715
To me, it feels very, like,
fun and playful, like the circus.
412
00:21:38,798 --> 00:21:40,633
-Mm-hmm.
-True, yeah.
413
00:21:40,717 --> 00:21:43,428
So what do you say?
Is it time to bring in the glassblowers?
414
00:21:43,511 --> 00:21:46,056
So glad you didn't say,
"Send in the clowns."
415
00:21:52,103 --> 00:21:53,772
I'm nervous going into this.
416
00:21:53,855 --> 00:21:57,942
I'm nervous going into every one.
As an artist, I put myself on the line.
417
00:21:58,860 --> 00:22:02,864
When I'm trying to make a piece
to convey a certain message,
418
00:22:02,947 --> 00:22:05,408
it can either hit it out of the ballpark
419
00:22:05,492 --> 00:22:07,660
or just be a total flop.
420
00:22:08,870 --> 00:22:12,040
It wouldn't feel great
to go home right now, but I did my best.
421
00:22:12,123 --> 00:22:13,541
And that's all I can ask for.
422
00:22:14,167 --> 00:22:18,797
Artists, you certainly brought the circus
to life with your pieces in the gallery.
423
00:22:18,880 --> 00:22:22,592
I was really impressed
with all of the very vivid, bright colors
424
00:22:22,675 --> 00:22:27,430
and definitely recognized a lot of really
classic, traditional circus motifs.
425
00:22:27,514 --> 00:22:28,515
Great job.
426
00:22:28,598 --> 00:22:31,851
Dan, tell us how
you approached this challenge.
427
00:22:31,935 --> 00:22:35,313
I decided to kinda just lean into
more of my personal experience.
428
00:22:35,397 --> 00:22:36,815
Especially in this atmosphere,
429
00:22:36,898 --> 00:22:40,527
it's a little more of a spectacle
than I usually work underneath.
430
00:22:40,610 --> 00:22:44,489
Had you thought about putting
the stripes of the larger ball,
431
00:22:44,572 --> 00:22:48,034
maybe, at an angle
to give it, like, a sense of motion?
432
00:22:48,118 --> 00:22:50,286
You know, I really wanted to put the bear
433
00:22:50,370 --> 00:22:53,289
right at the center of what we call
the termination of the canes,
434
00:22:53,373 --> 00:22:55,708
and I just thought
that would bring the design together.
435
00:22:55,792 --> 00:22:58,878
You know, I think you did
a great job on the bear
436
00:22:58,962 --> 00:23:01,089
and all of the different accessories.
437
00:23:01,172 --> 00:23:03,299
I was curious, though,
about the-- the tears.
438
00:23:03,383 --> 00:23:05,677
Well, it's kind of like
the tears of a clown.
439
00:23:05,760 --> 00:23:07,429
Although the bear loves to dance,
440
00:23:07,512 --> 00:23:10,223
he's disappointed
that he has to wear a fez cap.
441
00:23:11,683 --> 00:23:12,517
Thanks, Dan.
442
00:23:13,351 --> 00:23:14,519
Trenton.
443
00:23:14,602 --> 00:23:16,980
The fire was really great-looking.
444
00:23:17,063 --> 00:23:18,064
I liked it a lot.
445
00:23:18,148 --> 00:23:20,692
At the top of the ring there's a joint.
446
00:23:20,775 --> 00:23:23,319
How do you feel about
the connection on the ring itself?
447
00:23:24,112 --> 00:23:25,905
Uh, it could have been
a cleaner connection.
448
00:23:25,989 --> 00:23:28,825
It looks like the stand
for the ring of fire is a spoon.
449
00:23:28,908 --> 00:23:30,160
Can you talk a bit about that?
450
00:23:30,243 --> 00:23:33,121
It has to do kinda with myself
and, like, where I started.
451
00:23:33,204 --> 00:23:36,291
You know, I don't come
from a background that, uh…
452
00:23:36,374 --> 00:23:38,334
-A silver spoon in your mouth.
-Silver spoon.
453
00:23:38,418 --> 00:23:40,044
And so this piece represents that.
454
00:23:40,628 --> 00:23:43,089
But I think that's
what makes us a great community,
455
00:23:43,173 --> 00:23:45,758
is we come from different
cultural and economic backgrounds,
456
00:23:45,842 --> 00:23:48,511
but we speak the same language,
which is glass.
457
00:23:48,595 --> 00:23:49,512
Thanks, Trenton.
458
00:23:50,305 --> 00:23:51,181
Thank you.
459
00:23:51,264 --> 00:23:52,098
Minhi.
460
00:23:52,599 --> 00:23:54,309
I really love the texture in your piece.
461
00:23:54,392 --> 00:23:58,229
I'm wondering why you went
with, like, the pointy protrusions.
462
00:23:58,313 --> 00:24:02,358
I was thinking about,
sort of, standing your ground
463
00:24:02,442 --> 00:24:04,652
for the things that make you different,
464
00:24:04,736 --> 00:24:09,574
and the bearded dragon, in particular,
will puff up when it feels threatened.
465
00:24:10,200 --> 00:24:11,951
-Thanks, Minhi.
-Thank you.
466
00:24:12,035 --> 00:24:13,369
John Moran.
467
00:24:13,453 --> 00:24:16,956
I wanted to be able to create,
like, a-- a caricature of a politician
468
00:24:17,040 --> 00:24:20,251
but bring a lot of the motifs
that you would have from circus imagery
469
00:24:20,335 --> 00:24:23,213
and make a little bit of a commentary
on the political circus.
470
00:24:23,296 --> 00:24:24,923
When you make a piece like this,
471
00:24:25,006 --> 00:24:28,635
do you worry at all
about, like, alienating certain people?
472
00:24:28,718 --> 00:24:32,514
Whenever I make most political work,
it's always about starting conversation.
473
00:24:32,597 --> 00:24:34,641
So, uh, I don't believe it's alienating.
474
00:24:34,724 --> 00:24:37,101
But, of course,
that's not up to me to decide.
475
00:24:38,102 --> 00:24:39,896
-Thank you, John.
-Thank you.
476
00:24:41,064 --> 00:24:45,485
We'd love to hear from John Sharvin,
AKA Walter the Walrus.
477
00:24:46,152 --> 00:24:48,363
I wanted
to kinda portray Walter as this guy
478
00:24:48,446 --> 00:24:51,157
who just really wants
to, you know, actually succeed,
479
00:24:51,241 --> 00:24:52,909
but he just keeps failing.
480
00:24:52,992 --> 00:24:54,327
And actually taking that to heart,
481
00:24:54,410 --> 00:24:57,205
and not giving up,
and persevering through his downfalls.
482
00:24:57,288 --> 00:25:01,668
Probably for your industry, glass,
and for mine as well, the circus,
483
00:25:01,751 --> 00:25:03,628
you're going to fail a lot.
484
00:25:03,711 --> 00:25:07,549
You're gonna constantly have people saying
you can't do a thing, or you're too old.
485
00:25:08,132 --> 00:25:09,801
Your walrus resonates with me.
486
00:25:09,884 --> 00:25:11,970
-Thanks, I'm glad.
487
00:25:12,053 --> 00:25:14,597
You know,
I feel like the execution on this piece
488
00:25:14,681 --> 00:25:17,100
is probably the best
that we've seen from you.
489
00:25:17,183 --> 00:25:18,977
Are you happy
with how the piece turned out?
490
00:25:19,060 --> 00:25:20,311
I appreciate the compliment.
491
00:25:20,395 --> 00:25:23,523
Um, and I'm-- I'm very happy
with the way it turned out. Yes.
492
00:25:24,566 --> 00:25:27,110
Thank you, artists.
We're gonna take a moment to discuss.
493
00:25:31,614 --> 00:25:35,577
We had a walrus and a seal.
It's hard to not compare them.
494
00:25:36,077 --> 00:25:40,248
As an artist, you want to win a challenge,
but I just want to make it another round.
495
00:25:40,957 --> 00:25:42,750
I feel like
I've done the best I can do.
496
00:25:42,834 --> 00:25:45,795
And hopefully,
the evaluators feel that way too.
497
00:25:45,878 --> 00:25:49,257
Good intention
maybe didn't land where it needed to.
498
00:25:49,924 --> 00:25:52,010
If this piece sends me home,
499
00:25:52,093 --> 00:25:55,054
I take solace in knowing
that I stood my ground,
500
00:25:55,138 --> 00:25:56,764
artistically speaking.
501
00:25:58,016 --> 00:26:00,435
Thank you for waiting.
We've reached a decision.
502
00:26:00,518 --> 00:26:02,687
Today's Best in Blow is…
503
00:26:06,232 --> 00:26:07,150
John.
504
00:26:11,404 --> 00:26:13,531
-Sharvin.
505
00:26:13,615 --> 00:26:16,534
-Thanks, guys. Oh, that's great.
506
00:26:16,618 --> 00:26:18,077
It's taken a while.
507
00:26:18,161 --> 00:26:21,164
But, uh, it's nice to actually put some
of my best work forward
508
00:26:21,247 --> 00:26:22,624
and have that be appreciated.
509
00:26:22,707 --> 00:26:23,541
I feel good.
510
00:26:23,625 --> 00:26:24,959
We've been waiting for that one.
511
00:26:29,714 --> 00:26:33,760
John Sharvin, you have won the very last
advantage in the competition,
512
00:26:33,843 --> 00:26:34,802
and that is
513
00:26:35,845 --> 00:26:38,264
going to be revealed
at the next challenge.
514
00:26:38,348 --> 00:26:40,058
-Per uje.
515
00:26:41,643 --> 00:26:44,270
And now, the artist that
did not blow us away
516
00:26:44,354 --> 00:26:47,148
and must leave the hot shop
immediately is…
517
00:26:52,612 --> 00:26:53,780
Trenton.
518
00:26:54,989 --> 00:26:56,991
Thank you. I agree with that decision.
519
00:26:57,075 --> 00:26:59,827
Please say your goodbyes
and exit the hot shop.
520
00:27:01,496 --> 00:27:04,457
This competition, it's definitely not
for the faint of heart.
521
00:27:04,540 --> 00:27:07,877
I came here
and, uh, I was quickly humbled.
522
00:27:07,960 --> 00:27:09,420
-There you go, brother.
-Ah.
523
00:27:09,504 --> 00:27:11,047
-Huy ch q'u.
-Huy ch q'u.
524
00:27:11,130 --> 00:27:13,383
Dan gave me
one of his-- his custom pendants.
525
00:27:13,466 --> 00:27:14,550
A big huy ch q'u to him.
526
00:27:14,634 --> 00:27:16,177
It means a lot to me.
527
00:27:16,260 --> 00:27:18,680
Receiving something
that someone's made with their hands
528
00:27:18,763 --> 00:27:21,307
is almost worth more than money to me.