1 00:00:06,299 --> 00:00:11,387 Throw sand, lime and soda into a 2,000 degree Fahrenheit furnace, 2 00:00:11,929 --> 00:00:14,140 and you get liquid glass. 3 00:00:14,223 --> 00:00:18,311 Skilled glassblowers gather the molten mixture using hollow pipes. 4 00:00:18,394 --> 00:00:19,687 And when they blow, 5 00:00:19,771 --> 00:00:23,024 glass inflates to form a bubble to shape and sculpt. 6 00:00:23,107 --> 00:00:25,651 The tools and techniques date back to Roman times, 7 00:00:25,735 --> 00:00:26,986 but we're about to 8 00:00:27,695 --> 00:00:28,571 turn up the heat. 9 00:00:29,322 --> 00:00:31,657 We're back at North America's largest hot shop 10 00:00:32,366 --> 00:00:34,410 to watch ten exceptional artists… 11 00:00:35,953 --> 00:00:38,456 …fight fire with fire. 12 00:00:38,539 --> 00:00:39,957 And now the fun begins. 13 00:00:42,210 --> 00:00:43,294 Go big or go home. 14 00:00:43,377 --> 00:00:44,754 And with great risk… 15 00:00:45,588 --> 00:00:47,799 -Oh, God. -Rest on the bench. Rest on the bench! 16 00:00:47,882 --> 00:00:50,259 -I always come out swinging. -…comes great reward. 17 00:00:50,343 --> 00:00:51,511 Yeah, baby! -Whoo! 18 00:00:51,594 --> 00:00:53,971 If they can survive our fiery competition, 19 00:00:54,055 --> 00:00:56,390 they'll win a life-changing prize package 20 00:00:56,474 --> 00:01:00,311 that will establish them around the globe as Best in Glass. 21 00:01:00,394 --> 00:01:03,689 I'm Nick Uhas. Prepare to be Blown Away. 22 00:01:09,487 --> 00:01:12,323 Glassblowers, welcome back to the hot shop. 23 00:01:12,406 --> 00:01:15,827 Coming into this next challenge, I'm just trying to do my best. 24 00:01:15,910 --> 00:01:18,121 And hopefully it's better than the worst person. 25 00:01:18,204 --> 00:01:19,372 It's not gonna be easy. 26 00:01:19,997 --> 00:01:21,707 Now that there's five of us, 27 00:01:21,791 --> 00:01:24,127 it is real in the sense that, hey, you're gettin' closer. 28 00:01:24,794 --> 00:01:29,298 Seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, only one of us can take this. 29 00:01:29,382 --> 00:01:33,594 For centuries, artists like Degas, Renoir, Matisse, 30 00:01:33,678 --> 00:01:36,681 have been inspired by the circus and its bright colors, 31 00:01:36,764 --> 00:01:39,559 bold patterns, and big personalities. 32 00:01:39,642 --> 00:01:41,853 One of those great artists, as I'm sure you know, 33 00:01:41,936 --> 00:01:44,438 is Venetian Maestro Pino Signoretto, 34 00:01:44,522 --> 00:01:47,525 and his amazingly-crafted glass clowns. 35 00:01:47,608 --> 00:01:51,904 Pino Signoretto is one of the godfathers of glass sculpting, I would say. 36 00:01:51,988 --> 00:01:55,324 His series of clowns have so much movement and emotion in them. 37 00:01:55,408 --> 00:01:57,160 They're really incredibly sculpted. 38 00:01:57,243 --> 00:01:59,704 Uh, definitely not making a clown. I don't like clowns. 39 00:02:00,830 --> 00:02:01,664 For this challenge, 40 00:02:01,747 --> 00:02:06,002 we want you to take the over-the-top energy found under the big top 41 00:02:06,085 --> 00:02:08,629 and create a circus-themed piece of art. 42 00:02:09,338 --> 00:02:12,508 To help Katherine evaluate your work is aerial acrobat 43 00:02:12,592 --> 00:02:15,887 and circus company owner, Miranda Tempest. 44 00:02:19,015 --> 00:02:22,852 Seeing the guest evaluator, she just looks so lively. 45 00:02:22,935 --> 00:02:24,937 And I love what she does for a living. 46 00:02:25,771 --> 00:02:28,816 The circus and the hot shop are all about taking risks 47 00:02:28,900 --> 00:02:30,359 and creating a spectacle. 48 00:02:30,443 --> 00:02:32,570 Plus, we both get to play with fire. 49 00:02:33,696 --> 00:02:35,740 You wanna play with fire? So do we. 50 00:02:44,540 --> 00:02:45,750 Dancing with fire, 51 00:02:45,833 --> 00:02:47,835 even though it's about five feet away from us, 52 00:02:47,919 --> 00:02:49,629 you can still feel the heat coming off. 53 00:02:49,712 --> 00:02:52,256 That kinda makes us glass artists right at home. 54 00:02:55,468 --> 00:02:58,888 All I can think is that she's about to catch her hair on fire. 55 00:03:00,890 --> 00:03:01,891 For this challenge, 56 00:03:01,974 --> 00:03:06,354 we will be evaluating you on design, concept and technical skill. 57 00:03:06,437 --> 00:03:08,814 The winner of the challenge will be named Best in Blow 58 00:03:08,898 --> 00:03:12,401 and will receive the very last advantage of the competition. 59 00:03:12,485 --> 00:03:13,861 -Oh, nice. -Okay. 60 00:03:13,945 --> 00:03:16,614 I want the advantage, but really I just want a win right now. 61 00:03:16,697 --> 00:03:18,199 I just-- I-- I need a win. 62 00:03:18,282 --> 00:03:20,701 The artist that does not blow us away 63 00:03:20,785 --> 00:03:22,787 will be shedding the tears of a clown, 64 00:03:22,870 --> 00:03:24,789 and asked to leave the hot shop. 65 00:03:24,872 --> 00:03:28,042 Glassblowers, you have four and a half hours for this challenge. 66 00:03:28,125 --> 00:03:30,836 Your time starts… now. 67 00:03:38,552 --> 00:03:40,930 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. 69 00:03:45,768 --> 00:03:49,480 This is paying homage to Annie Jones, 70 00:03:49,563 --> 00:03:52,858 who is one of the most famous bearded ladies in history. 71 00:03:52,942 --> 00:03:58,614 She advocated for shifting the norms about what is considered a freak. 72 00:04:00,574 --> 00:04:03,035 What I'm making is a seal. 73 00:04:03,119 --> 00:04:05,538 It's on a pedestal, and it's jumping through a ring of fire. 74 00:04:05,621 --> 00:04:09,375 The ring of fire symbolizes hoops that we all have to jump through. 75 00:04:09,458 --> 00:04:10,501 Everyone that came here 76 00:04:10,584 --> 00:04:12,753 had to jump through a lot of hoops to get here. 77 00:04:12,837 --> 00:04:14,338 And we sacrificed a lot to be here. 78 00:04:14,964 --> 00:04:16,424 Yeah, I left my girlfriend back home. 79 00:04:16,507 --> 00:04:18,175 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 00:04:31,314 --> 00:04:32,481 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 00:04:34,483 --> 00:04:35,735 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 00:04:49,373 --> 00:04:51,917 He'll have a small fez cap on top of his head. 93 00:04:52,001 --> 00:04:53,085 Ever the performer. 94 00:04:53,169 --> 00:04:57,548 As artists we take a lot of risks and expose ourselves publicly, 95 00:04:57,631 --> 00:05:00,509 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 00:05:20,780 --> 00:05:22,490 -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. 104 00:05:28,829 --> 00:05:30,581 -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, 111 00:06:00,820 --> 00:06:02,655 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. 114 00:06:08,869 --> 00:06:10,496 Looking good, Minhi! 115 00:06:13,040 --> 00:06:15,000 -Excuse me? -Hey! Whoa-ho! 116 00:06:15,626 --> 00:06:17,503 Oh no, my girlfriend's watchin'. 117 00:06:20,756 --> 00:06:23,509 There's moments where the hot shop is like a circus. 118 00:06:23,592 --> 00:06:26,470 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 00:06:31,559 --> 00:06:34,603 I mean, the work itself is pretty inherently thrilling, 121 00:06:34,687 --> 00:06:38,524 and yet, as literally combustible as it is, 122 00:06:38,607 --> 00:06:41,152 it's actually quite predictable in how it behaves. 123 00:06:41,777 --> 00:06:43,821 That really is a lot like glassblowing, 124 00:06:43,904 --> 00:06:46,907 using the heat to work its magic with the material 125 00:06:46,991 --> 00:06:48,909 is something that glassblowers do all the time. 126 00:06:48,993 --> 00:06:51,203 Yes, that's the shape I want. 127 00:06:51,871 --> 00:06:53,372 We're, like, playing with fire, 128 00:06:53,456 --> 00:06:55,583 and we're juggling this molten material. 129 00:06:55,666 --> 00:06:57,835 I-- I think we all belong in the freak show. 130 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, 132 00:07:09,054 --> 00:07:10,431 and crying. 133 00:07:10,514 --> 00:07:13,893 Miranda, so I feel like every kid sort of, like, has this 134 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 00:07:23,027 --> 00:07:27,156 But the nice thing about the circus, the community will have your back. 138 00:07:27,239 --> 00:07:29,575 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 00:07:31,827 --> 00:07:35,915 Even in this competitive environment, they all want to see each other succeed. 141 00:07:35,998 --> 00:07:39,293 I want to win, and they want to win, but we don't want to beat each other. 142 00:07:39,376 --> 00:07:41,212 -Looking good. -Thanks, man. 143 00:07:41,712 --> 00:07:45,674 Glassblowers are supportive of each other because, you know, it's a team sport. 144 00:07:49,053 --> 00:07:52,640 So I am making the head of the elephant right now. 145 00:07:52,723 --> 00:07:54,767 I'll add the trunk later. 146 00:07:56,810 --> 00:07:58,979 We're gonna make the bow tie. 147 00:07:59,063 --> 00:08:01,440 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 00:08:10,616 --> 00:08:14,245 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 00:08:20,543 --> 00:08:23,254 How do you bring the circus to life with your work? 155 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 158 00:08:32,096 --> 00:08:34,515 with frit and powder and bar. 159 00:08:34,598 --> 00:08:37,101 -No clowning around. -No clowning around. Nope. 160 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. 164 00:08:51,323 --> 00:08:55,536 I had my assistant bring a bit of orange glass, 165 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 173 00:09:24,231 --> 00:09:26,483 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 175 00:09:28,319 --> 00:09:31,572 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.