1 00:00:07,008 --> 00:00:08,551 This season on Blown Away… 2 00:00:10,303 --> 00:00:13,389 …ten talented glassblowers from around the world 3 00:00:13,473 --> 00:00:15,516 came to North America's largest hot shop. 4 00:00:15,600 --> 00:00:17,310 Let's blow some glass! 5 00:00:17,894 --> 00:00:20,855 Armed with blow pipes, punties and paddles, 6 00:00:20,938 --> 00:00:23,775 they battled it out for fame and fortune. 7 00:00:23,858 --> 00:00:25,526 -Rest on the bench! -Oh, God! 8 00:00:25,610 --> 00:00:26,819 Chaos! 9 00:00:26,903 --> 00:00:32,241 Glass got the best of Claire, Rob, Maddy, Brenna, Grace, 10 00:00:32,325 --> 00:00:37,038 Trenton, Dan and John, as they were all asked to leave the hot shop. 11 00:00:39,248 --> 00:00:43,211 With just one challenge left, only Minhi and John Moran remain. 12 00:00:43,836 --> 00:00:46,881 Being Best in Glass would be completely life-changing. 13 00:00:46,964 --> 00:00:49,926 It's been an emotional ride. It's surreal. 14 00:00:50,009 --> 00:00:52,553 Who will be named Blown Away Champion 15 00:00:52,637 --> 00:00:55,014 and earn the title Best in Glass? 16 00:00:56,015 --> 00:01:01,104 I'm Nick Uhas, and this is the season finale of Blown Away. 17 00:01:07,068 --> 00:01:10,530 Glassblowers, welcome to the moment we've all been waiting for. 18 00:01:11,239 --> 00:01:12,198 The finale. 19 00:01:12,281 --> 00:01:15,409 Whoo!I did it. 20 00:01:16,786 --> 00:01:21,165 I, literally this morning, just said, "I have a 50-50% chance of winning this." 21 00:01:21,749 --> 00:01:23,126 It hasn't quite set in yet. 22 00:01:24,836 --> 00:01:29,382 John, Minhi, you've bested eight other exceptional glassblowers 23 00:01:29,465 --> 00:01:33,678 and overcome nine challenges to be right here, right now. 24 00:01:34,303 --> 00:01:36,430 It's really still something I can't fathom. 25 00:01:37,265 --> 00:01:40,852 I've given all of myself to this competition. 26 00:01:40,935 --> 00:01:43,146 And now, for the final challenge. 27 00:01:44,063 --> 00:01:45,773 Cue the gallery doors. 28 00:01:49,902 --> 00:01:55,950 Seeing the empty gallery is like seeing a giant blank canvas. 29 00:01:56,534 --> 00:02:00,663 I don't know if I like that or if that terrifies me. 30 00:02:00,746 --> 00:02:03,875 You will each have eight hours to fill one half of the gallery. 31 00:02:05,376 --> 00:02:07,712 The challenge is to create a cohesive, 32 00:02:07,795 --> 00:02:10,715 original and immersive glass installation 33 00:02:10,798 --> 00:02:12,508 that will blow everyone away. 34 00:02:14,177 --> 00:02:16,721 The theme of your installation is entirely up to you, 35 00:02:17,305 --> 00:02:21,601 but I will say that we expect you to produce a technical tour de force 36 00:02:21,684 --> 00:02:23,686 with a strong, personal statement. 37 00:02:23,769 --> 00:02:24,979 -Yeah. 38 00:02:25,062 --> 00:02:26,689 No pressure. It'll be fine. 39 00:02:27,773 --> 00:02:32,570 Not only are you competing for a prize package valued at $60,000 40 00:02:32,653 --> 00:02:34,155 that includes a residency 41 00:02:34,238 --> 00:02:36,782 at the world-renowned Corning Museum of Glass. 42 00:02:36,866 --> 00:02:40,995 The winning installation will also go on display at Corning. 43 00:02:41,621 --> 00:02:45,958 Having work shown and installed at Corning is a lifelong goal. 44 00:02:46,042 --> 00:02:47,585 It's like a bucket list item. 45 00:02:48,211 --> 00:02:51,547 Today, you two have a chance to make that dream come true. 46 00:02:52,173 --> 00:02:53,966 I want this so bad it's all I've thought about 47 00:02:54,050 --> 00:02:56,302 from the moment that I applied for the competition. 48 00:02:56,385 --> 00:02:58,137 Helping evaluate your installations 49 00:02:58,221 --> 00:03:01,307 is the curator of Post-War and Contemporary Glass 50 00:03:01,390 --> 00:03:04,518 at the Corning Museum, Susie Silbert. 51 00:03:08,522 --> 00:03:09,982 Susie Silbert is a big deal. 52 00:03:10,691 --> 00:03:12,568 I look up to her so much. 53 00:03:12,652 --> 00:03:15,780 That has me feeling a little starstruck. 54 00:03:16,322 --> 00:03:18,491 I know how intense this moment is for you. 55 00:03:19,075 --> 00:03:23,162 So I brought six stellar glass workers from our Corning Museum of Glass… 56 00:03:23,246 --> 00:03:25,957 -Great. -…to work with you to create your pieces 57 00:03:26,040 --> 00:03:28,209 and help you realize your vision. 58 00:03:28,292 --> 00:03:32,088 For the finale, you'll be evaluated on design, concept, 59 00:03:32,171 --> 00:03:34,632 and overall presentation of your installation, 60 00:03:34,715 --> 00:03:38,511 as well as your entire Blown Away body of work. 61 00:03:39,929 --> 00:03:41,973 -Ready to get started? -Yes. 62 00:03:42,723 --> 00:03:44,308 Here we go. 63 00:03:44,392 --> 00:03:45,559 Your time starts… 64 00:03:48,145 --> 00:03:49,522 …now. 65 00:03:55,319 --> 00:03:58,239 This final challenge means a lot to me. I definitely feel more pressure. 66 00:03:58,322 --> 00:04:01,492 Let's do it. I'm so excited to work with you. 67 00:04:01,575 --> 00:04:03,828 A lot is being asked of us. 68 00:04:03,911 --> 00:04:05,997 It's like, "Do the best thing you've ever done, 69 00:04:06,080 --> 00:04:07,915 but you only have eight hours." 70 00:04:07,999 --> 00:04:09,959 Good luck. 71 00:04:12,670 --> 00:04:14,714 So here's a photo retrospective 72 00:04:14,797 --> 00:04:18,259 of John and Minhi's work over the nine challenges. 73 00:04:18,342 --> 00:04:20,845 You know, John has stuck to what he knows. 74 00:04:20,928 --> 00:04:23,931 I don't know as he's, like, pushed himself outside of the box 75 00:04:24,015 --> 00:04:25,266 as much as Minhi has. 76 00:04:25,349 --> 00:04:27,226 There's definitely been a progression 77 00:04:27,310 --> 00:04:30,396 in how she's approached the material and each challenge. 78 00:04:31,147 --> 00:04:33,399 Who do you think has the edge here? 79 00:04:33,482 --> 00:04:36,610 Honestly, I think, once we get to the finale, 80 00:04:36,694 --> 00:04:38,863 it's concept, it's design, it's technique, 81 00:04:38,946 --> 00:04:39,864 all of those things, 82 00:04:39,947 --> 00:04:42,408 and they both are really good in all of those areas. 83 00:04:42,491 --> 00:04:44,452 So I think they both have a chance of winning. 84 00:04:44,535 --> 00:04:45,536 I'd agree with that. 85 00:04:45,619 --> 00:04:49,957 John really does have the lock on his particular sculpting 86 00:04:50,041 --> 00:04:52,501 and on his shading, and all of that. 87 00:04:52,585 --> 00:04:56,797 But, you know, there are things that Minhi's doing that are advanced 88 00:04:56,881 --> 00:04:59,675 and very interesting, and she has spark. 89 00:04:59,759 --> 00:05:03,804 I think it's really interesting to see how different these two artists are. 90 00:05:05,306 --> 00:05:08,434 Using the floor, I kinda wanna make this like cobblestones 91 00:05:08,517 --> 00:05:10,144 that will piece together. 92 00:05:10,227 --> 00:05:12,980 Coming out, this will also be shrubbery, like little grass coming out, 93 00:05:13,064 --> 00:05:15,358 make it look like it's pushing up through the ground. 94 00:05:15,441 --> 00:05:16,942 The experience I want people to have 95 00:05:17,026 --> 00:05:20,071 is to discover these moments of the white floor breaking apart 96 00:05:20,154 --> 00:05:21,655 and revealing life underneath. 97 00:05:22,239 --> 00:05:23,824 And we're just gonna go really big. 98 00:05:23,908 --> 00:05:28,662 We're going to make it as big as we can so that it has this really big presence. 99 00:05:28,746 --> 00:05:31,082 Lots and lots of color. 100 00:05:31,165 --> 00:05:34,668 And we'll apply the color with murrine. 101 00:05:34,752 --> 00:05:37,546 My piece is going to be this sphere 102 00:05:37,630 --> 00:05:42,551 that represents a fire within the spirit that is lifting up. 103 00:05:42,635 --> 00:05:45,721 It's like pulling up out of this tar, 104 00:05:45,805 --> 00:05:49,600 out of this muck from many, many different places. 105 00:05:49,683 --> 00:05:52,561 It's about rising from the ashes. 106 00:05:53,104 --> 00:05:56,107 There's gonna be this stuffed toy rabbit that'll be here. 107 00:05:56,190 --> 00:05:57,817 It'll be kind of, like, discarded. 108 00:05:57,900 --> 00:06:00,736 The rabbit is supposed to be like a discarded child's toy. 109 00:06:00,820 --> 00:06:04,532 But there's a flower growing from it. It's a symbol of birth and growth. 110 00:06:04,615 --> 00:06:07,535 Is any of this gonna be on a pedestal or hanging from the ceiling? 111 00:06:07,618 --> 00:06:10,496 No. The real idea for this piece is that it's all about the floor. 112 00:06:10,579 --> 00:06:13,165 So everything will be down on the ground. 113 00:06:13,249 --> 00:06:17,294 I definitely feel like it's a risk to not fill the space with a lot of objects, 114 00:06:17,378 --> 00:06:19,588 but I feel like it's a calculated risk. 115 00:06:19,672 --> 00:06:21,090 Nearing the end of the time, 116 00:06:21,173 --> 00:06:23,551 I'm gonna have all of us, all hands on deck, 117 00:06:23,634 --> 00:06:26,971 trying to make as much of this darkness to cover the floor. 118 00:06:27,555 --> 00:06:31,058 -Well, looks like we got our work cut out. -I think so. I think so. 119 00:06:31,142 --> 00:06:33,144 -Let's do this! -Yeah. Let's do it. 120 00:06:40,025 --> 00:06:41,777 -This is the fun part. -Yeah! 121 00:06:41,861 --> 00:06:42,862 All right, let's do it. 122 00:06:50,911 --> 00:06:52,538 I'm incredibly pumped right now. 123 00:06:52,621 --> 00:06:54,623 -Yeah, buddy! -Yeah! We're in it! 124 00:06:59,920 --> 00:07:01,547 I'm gonna manage the Corning team. 125 00:07:02,131 --> 00:07:04,467 I'll show Tom and Eric how I would approach the brick. 126 00:07:04,550 --> 00:07:06,343 And then let them run with it. 127 00:07:06,427 --> 00:07:07,803 You want to texture this up more. 128 00:07:07,887 --> 00:07:09,597 -Yeah. -Just kinda, like, hit the surface. 129 00:07:09,680 --> 00:07:10,890 Yep, yep. 130 00:07:10,973 --> 00:07:13,559 I'm gonna work with Helen on making the rabbit parts. 131 00:07:13,642 --> 00:07:16,937 Is the stuffing gonna be coming out of the mid-body or the hand? 132 00:07:17,021 --> 00:07:18,856 Yeah. The middle of the body a little bit. 133 00:07:19,523 --> 00:07:22,485 I'm not very good at making rondels, so I'll have Eric do that. 134 00:07:25,946 --> 00:07:26,864 I feel great. 135 00:07:26,947 --> 00:07:28,532 It's been a hell of a run. 136 00:07:29,116 --> 00:07:34,580 This challenge is super important. Everything I've done was to be here now. 137 00:07:35,414 --> 00:07:39,960 It feels so good to be at this point in the competition. 138 00:07:40,794 --> 00:07:43,297 My husband encouraged me to apply. 139 00:07:44,215 --> 00:07:47,510 He lost his battle to cancer. 140 00:07:47,593 --> 00:07:50,763 And so I said, "Okay, I'm-- I'm gonna do it." 141 00:07:50,846 --> 00:07:52,306 And now, here I am. 142 00:07:55,184 --> 00:07:56,810 Don't leave cold spots. 143 00:07:58,020 --> 00:07:59,271 Not promising anything. 144 00:08:00,397 --> 00:08:03,442 Susie, do you have a prediction for who the winner will be? 145 00:08:03,526 --> 00:08:06,195 No, I don't, because one of the things that's strangest 146 00:08:06,278 --> 00:08:07,488 for me to be right here 147 00:08:07,571 --> 00:08:11,325 is that I don't really think of there being winners at art. 148 00:08:12,076 --> 00:08:15,204 To win at art is to get to keep making your work every day. 149 00:08:20,042 --> 00:08:23,837 When I first wanted to be an artist, I was a painter. 150 00:08:24,630 --> 00:08:27,007 And the moment I walked into the hot shop, 151 00:08:27,091 --> 00:08:29,927 I dropped everything and I never painted again. 152 00:08:30,594 --> 00:08:32,930 Everything was just about glass from that moment on. 153 00:08:33,931 --> 00:08:36,600 So we say that this prize is life-changing. 154 00:08:36,684 --> 00:08:38,394 How true is that? 155 00:08:38,477 --> 00:08:39,812 I think it's incredibly true. 156 00:08:40,646 --> 00:08:43,566 The prize at the end would be something amazing. 157 00:08:43,649 --> 00:08:45,150 I've been doing this for 20 years, 158 00:08:45,234 --> 00:08:46,610 and I have no savings, no-- 159 00:08:46,694 --> 00:08:49,572 I don't own anything. I have no money. 160 00:08:49,655 --> 00:08:51,657 To actually have money in the bank 161 00:08:51,740 --> 00:08:54,451 and to be able to do a residency at a place like Corning, 162 00:08:54,535 --> 00:08:56,495 like, a dream come true. 163 00:08:57,162 --> 00:09:00,833 That is a huge, huge game changer for a lot of artists. 164 00:09:00,916 --> 00:09:02,376 Hustle, hustle. 165 00:09:08,340 --> 00:09:14,430 This piece represents my journey. It represents my will to carry on. 166 00:09:15,097 --> 00:09:18,058 It's really important that the sphere is very colorful. 167 00:09:18,142 --> 00:09:19,727 It's supposed to represent hope. 168 00:09:20,519 --> 00:09:24,773 So I am utilizing warm colors. 169 00:09:24,857 --> 00:09:29,278 Reds and yellows, showing this fiery spirit. 170 00:09:29,903 --> 00:09:33,240 I decide to use a murrine technique. 171 00:09:33,324 --> 00:09:39,538 I want to use murrine to make a pattern that is pretty uniform and round. 172 00:09:42,041 --> 00:09:44,043 Seeing a lot of broken cane. 173 00:09:44,126 --> 00:09:46,879 It keeps breaking. And the other one did, too. 174 00:09:49,757 --> 00:09:51,592 That's not supposed to happen. 175 00:09:52,217 --> 00:09:55,179 There's a reaction happening with the clear glass 176 00:09:55,262 --> 00:09:58,098 that is causing everything to shatter. 177 00:09:58,182 --> 00:10:01,727 Yeah. It's just a thing that happens sometimes, unfortunately. 178 00:10:02,519 --> 00:10:04,897 So I have to make a decision to pivot. 179 00:10:05,481 --> 00:10:07,441 I have lost two hours. 180 00:10:07,524 --> 00:10:10,611 I'm just going to do the same plan, 181 00:10:10,694 --> 00:10:14,198 just a different color palette and hope I have enough time. 182 00:10:22,373 --> 00:10:24,750 Right now, I am texturing this rabbit. 183 00:10:24,833 --> 00:10:27,920 'Cause I want to make sure it looks like a stuffed animal. 184 00:10:28,003 --> 00:10:30,839 -This will give it the fluffy feeling. -Right. 185 00:10:31,548 --> 00:10:34,468 So the rabbit is supposed to be like a discarded child's toy. 186 00:10:34,551 --> 00:10:36,136 So it is about lost innocence. 187 00:10:37,388 --> 00:10:39,014 My father died when I was ten. 188 00:10:39,098 --> 00:10:41,225 It's not something I talk about a lot, 189 00:10:41,308 --> 00:10:44,687 but I know that it's something that really affected me in my life. 190 00:10:45,813 --> 00:10:47,815 This part of making for me is cathartic. 191 00:10:47,898 --> 00:10:50,359 This is, like, how I process everything. 192 00:10:50,442 --> 00:10:52,820 I think that's why I do it. 193 00:10:54,113 --> 00:10:57,157 It's really, uh, what I was imagining. 194 00:11:06,750 --> 00:11:08,711 So this season, for the first time ever, 195 00:11:08,794 --> 00:11:13,006 the winning installation goes on display at the Corning Museum of Glass. 196 00:11:13,090 --> 00:11:15,592 How big of an impact is that for the artist? 197 00:11:15,676 --> 00:11:18,137 I hope that it can have a really big impact. 198 00:11:18,220 --> 00:11:19,638 The Corning Museum of Glass 199 00:11:19,722 --> 00:11:22,349 is the preeminent museum of glass in the world. 200 00:11:22,433 --> 00:11:23,851 -Beautiful. 201 00:11:23,934 --> 00:11:27,479 This is an incredible platform that I think a lot of artists dream of. 202 00:11:27,563 --> 00:11:29,732 It's like the whole thing's been leading up to this. 203 00:11:29,815 --> 00:11:31,483 It's what you think about the whole time. 204 00:11:31,567 --> 00:11:34,695 I haven't thought about the fact that this could be displayed at Corning 205 00:11:34,778 --> 00:11:36,447 because I don't want to jinx myself. 206 00:11:45,622 --> 00:11:48,792 I see, on John's team, they're spending a lot of time 207 00:11:48,876 --> 00:11:51,253 putting texture on different pieces. 208 00:11:51,336 --> 00:11:54,631 Like, a lot of time. I hope that pays off. 209 00:11:54,715 --> 00:11:56,925 So far, I have made the bunny head. 210 00:11:57,009 --> 00:12:01,013 We've made a pile of the bricks, and this is the body of the bunny. 211 00:12:01,096 --> 00:12:02,639 Just a hare more to do. 212 00:12:02,723 --> 00:12:04,683 -It does take up time. 213 00:12:04,767 --> 00:12:08,187 And I'm very particular about the colors, so I wanna make sure it looks right. 214 00:12:08,812 --> 00:12:11,482 Wait, I'm like-- Am I making this backwards? 215 00:12:11,565 --> 00:12:12,399 Hmm. 216 00:12:15,152 --> 00:12:16,695 It needs to go the other way. 217 00:12:17,362 --> 00:12:19,364 Made the head resting on one side. 218 00:12:19,448 --> 00:12:23,076 And when I sculpted the body, I made the body going the other direction. 219 00:12:23,160 --> 00:12:25,329 Uh, I made a mistake. I'm fixing it now. 220 00:12:26,371 --> 00:12:27,456 There you go. 221 00:12:28,081 --> 00:12:30,501 Luckily, though, I had the heat in the piece already, 222 00:12:30,584 --> 00:12:32,544 so we just kinda flopped it the other way. 223 00:12:33,295 --> 00:12:34,713 What we always say is, uh, 224 00:12:34,797 --> 00:12:36,965 "What makes a good glass artist isn't what you can make, 225 00:12:37,049 --> 00:12:38,550 it's what you can fix," so… 226 00:12:39,843 --> 00:12:43,180 So, we ran into a bit of a compatibility problem. 227 00:12:45,015 --> 00:12:47,726 The warm colors are exploding, 228 00:12:47,810 --> 00:12:51,230 so we have to use a different color palette now. 229 00:12:51,939 --> 00:12:57,236 I switch to cool colors like blues and greens and purples. 230 00:12:57,319 --> 00:12:59,780 -That's breaking too. 231 00:13:00,405 --> 00:13:03,492 -That's not good. -Whoa. What is happening? 232 00:13:03,575 --> 00:13:05,327 It's totally doing the same thing. 233 00:13:05,410 --> 00:13:08,413 -Shattering from the outside. -Yeah, yeah. 234 00:13:08,497 --> 00:13:09,790 That's so crazy. 235 00:13:11,083 --> 00:13:13,293 I don't even know what to say about that. 236 00:13:14,294 --> 00:13:15,712 Incompatibility happens, 237 00:13:15,796 --> 00:13:18,257 but this is the same glass we've been using the entire time. 238 00:13:18,340 --> 00:13:21,426 I think she used it in a way that we haven't done so far. 239 00:13:21,510 --> 00:13:22,845 How you doing, Minhi? 240 00:13:24,096 --> 00:13:25,305 Not good. 241 00:13:25,389 --> 00:13:29,351 I don't want to win because Minhi wasn't able to make what she wanted to make. 242 00:13:29,434 --> 00:13:31,687 I want her to pull through and make something awesome. 243 00:13:33,355 --> 00:13:35,524 That's a lot of time that was wasted. 244 00:13:36,942 --> 00:13:39,403 I'm feeling insanely overwhelmed. 245 00:13:40,654 --> 00:13:42,698 I've totally shut down. 246 00:13:42,781 --> 00:13:46,702 I can't think and I don't know what to do. 247 00:13:50,706 --> 00:13:51,790 You hanging in there? 248 00:13:55,085 --> 00:13:56,461 You got it. 249 00:13:56,545 --> 00:13:59,131 Just… Just get out of your-- get out of your own head. 250 00:13:59,214 --> 00:14:00,841 -You'll be fine. -Okay. 251 00:14:00,924 --> 00:14:01,800 You got it. 252 00:14:03,260 --> 00:14:08,348 Having Katherine tell me that I can do this is exactly what I needed. 253 00:14:10,100 --> 00:14:11,351 All right. Good luck. 254 00:14:12,978 --> 00:14:15,939 At this point, I know I just need to move forward. 255 00:14:17,024 --> 00:14:20,736 Instead of using color bar, which seems like it's not going to work, 256 00:14:20,819 --> 00:14:22,779 I have to use frit. 257 00:14:22,863 --> 00:14:26,909 So I switch from murrine to cane. 258 00:14:27,576 --> 00:14:30,412 Well, at least we get our fire colors back this way. 259 00:14:30,495 --> 00:14:32,289 This'll be all right. 260 00:14:34,458 --> 00:14:37,502 There's four hours gone, and there's four hours left! 261 00:14:37,586 --> 00:14:38,921 You're halfway through! 262 00:14:39,004 --> 00:14:39,963 Okay, flash. 263 00:14:42,591 --> 00:14:44,927 -All right, go ahead and slack. -Yeah. 264 00:14:45,510 --> 00:14:47,471 -Hi, Katherine. -Hi, John. 265 00:14:47,554 --> 00:14:50,349 What are you hoping to accomplish with this installation? 266 00:14:50,432 --> 00:14:53,644 I want to make a piece that is, like, immersive in a very different way. 267 00:14:53,727 --> 00:14:56,605 So the piece isn't only about the glass 268 00:14:56,688 --> 00:14:59,399 that's going into the-- the space, it's also about the space. 269 00:14:59,983 --> 00:15:01,985 Do you think that's gonna be risky? 270 00:15:02,069 --> 00:15:03,987 I am a little terrified by it. 271 00:15:04,071 --> 00:15:07,240 But I feel like I've been trying to stick with my gut the whole time. 272 00:15:07,324 --> 00:15:09,284 This final challenge means a lot to me, 273 00:15:09,368 --> 00:15:11,745 so I decided to make, probably, the smallest piece 274 00:15:11,828 --> 00:15:13,914 I've made in the entire competition. 275 00:15:15,415 --> 00:15:16,917 I'll leave you to it. And good luck. 276 00:15:17,000 --> 00:15:18,377 -Thanks, Katherine. -All right. 277 00:15:27,844 --> 00:15:30,597 Yeah, looks like fire to me. 278 00:15:31,181 --> 00:15:33,392 In the making of this work 279 00:15:33,475 --> 00:15:38,021 about rising above the challenges and the hardship in life, 280 00:15:38,105 --> 00:15:41,191 I am actually going through that. 281 00:15:41,900 --> 00:15:45,112 This is definitely a time for redemption. 282 00:15:45,195 --> 00:15:48,699 This is where I get fierce and I power through. 283 00:15:49,241 --> 00:15:52,577 My only other option is to just, like, curl up in a ball and give up. 284 00:15:52,661 --> 00:15:54,871 And I'm definitely not doing that. 285 00:15:55,872 --> 00:15:57,332 I'm rising. 286 00:15:59,584 --> 00:16:01,128 I'm assembling this bunny hot. 287 00:16:02,295 --> 00:16:03,296 That's up. 288 00:16:03,380 --> 00:16:06,967 I'm doing it this way because it's the way that it looks the most natural. 289 00:16:07,509 --> 00:16:10,512 And it's important for this stuffed animal to look that way. 290 00:16:10,595 --> 00:16:11,430 I like it. 291 00:16:11,513 --> 00:16:12,848 He's laying the right way. 292 00:16:14,099 --> 00:16:16,727 The colors look good. Cool. 293 00:16:18,645 --> 00:16:20,814 We make the big sphere. 294 00:16:20,897 --> 00:16:24,526 It's not murrine, but it's in my color palette. 295 00:16:24,609 --> 00:16:26,903 And it's big, it's bold. 296 00:16:26,987 --> 00:16:32,576 And in a lot of ways, this swirling mass is actually better. 297 00:16:32,659 --> 00:16:34,661 So, I feel good about it. 298 00:16:34,745 --> 00:16:36,747 Okay, everybody lift and pull. 299 00:16:36,830 --> 00:16:38,040 -Beautiful. 300 00:16:42,461 --> 00:16:43,837 There it goes. 301 00:16:43,920 --> 00:16:46,173 That's the only thing I have in the annealer. 302 00:16:46,256 --> 00:16:49,217 I have to do everything else, literally. 303 00:16:56,058 --> 00:16:58,435 So I have this little flower I have to make. 304 00:16:58,518 --> 00:17:01,021 It'll be, kind of, coming out of the inside of the rabbit. 305 00:17:01,104 --> 00:17:02,189 When I first got here, 306 00:17:02,272 --> 00:17:04,691 I was intimidated by all of the people who were here. 307 00:17:05,609 --> 00:17:08,445 I want to prove to myself and the world that, 308 00:17:08,528 --> 00:17:11,990 if I stay true to myself and I make the things that I believe are important, 309 00:17:12,074 --> 00:17:13,492 then I can win. 310 00:17:14,159 --> 00:17:15,368 I like this a lot. 311 00:17:16,703 --> 00:17:18,997 So, we're all working on the darkness. 312 00:17:19,998 --> 00:17:20,916 Together. 313 00:17:22,125 --> 00:17:24,461 This is a tarry substance 314 00:17:24,544 --> 00:17:29,174 that's trying to drown my main bubble that's lifting and rising up. 315 00:17:30,300 --> 00:17:31,885 -Got it? -Got it. 316 00:17:33,428 --> 00:17:39,017 In the annealer, I just boxed the biggest, darkest black drip of the installation. 317 00:17:41,812 --> 00:17:44,689 Glassblowers, there's 45 minutes left. 318 00:17:46,149 --> 00:17:49,361 The most important thing will be to make all these little parts. 319 00:17:49,444 --> 00:17:51,947 We have a lot to do and not so much time to do it. 320 00:17:52,030 --> 00:17:54,407 So… I'm definitely nervous. 321 00:17:58,620 --> 00:17:59,704 Flip. 322 00:18:01,581 --> 00:18:03,125 Okay, flash that for me. 323 00:18:03,208 --> 00:18:04,584 Yes. 324 00:18:05,210 --> 00:18:09,840 So, what makes a great installation versus just a regular piece? 325 00:18:09,923 --> 00:18:12,634 You're thinking not just about the composition of an object 326 00:18:12,717 --> 00:18:14,845 but you're thinking about how to use a space. 327 00:18:14,928 --> 00:18:18,974 It's really difficult for most artists to work in the installation format. 328 00:18:19,057 --> 00:18:23,186 You really have to, kind of, think of components or multiples 329 00:18:23,270 --> 00:18:25,689 to kind of make a presence in the space. 330 00:18:25,772 --> 00:18:29,401 The installation, honestly, in a lot of ways, 331 00:18:29,484 --> 00:18:32,362 can be harder than actually making the objects. 332 00:18:32,863 --> 00:18:35,115 It's one thing to put something on a pedestal. 333 00:18:35,198 --> 00:18:38,618 But it's another to make the viewer feel like you're walking into an environment. 334 00:18:42,164 --> 00:18:43,790 Go ahead. Straight down. 335 00:18:44,291 --> 00:18:46,209 -Yeah. 336 00:18:48,295 --> 00:18:49,713 These are the parts that go 337 00:18:49,796 --> 00:18:52,257 between the bricks on the ground and stuff growing between them. 338 00:18:52,924 --> 00:18:54,134 It's gonna be cool. 339 00:18:56,511 --> 00:18:58,680 Already feeling the gooey black. 340 00:19:02,642 --> 00:19:04,352 There's 15 minutes left. 341 00:19:04,936 --> 00:19:07,314 Let's get your final pieces into the annealer. 342 00:19:07,397 --> 00:19:08,940 -Hot and drippy? -Yeah. 343 00:19:09,691 --> 00:19:12,777 As time starts to dwindle down, 344 00:19:12,861 --> 00:19:16,114 I feel like I have enough to see my vision. 345 00:19:16,990 --> 00:19:18,742 If it comes out the way I see it, 346 00:19:18,825 --> 00:19:20,744 it'll be my favorite piece of the competition. 347 00:19:20,827 --> 00:19:24,206 But I won't know if this is gonna work until it's installed. 348 00:19:25,540 --> 00:19:27,542 Minhi, there's only five minutes left! 349 00:19:29,336 --> 00:19:30,337 Beautiful. 350 00:19:32,547 --> 00:19:34,591 -On its side is fine. -Awesome job. 351 00:19:34,674 --> 00:19:36,551 -Good job. -Nice job, guys, seriously. 352 00:19:36,635 --> 00:19:39,137 Ten challenges down. I'm gonna miss this place. 353 00:19:39,804 --> 00:19:42,933 -Go, team! You guys are awesome. 354 00:19:43,016 --> 00:19:44,935 Once I nail this installation, 355 00:19:45,018 --> 00:19:45,852 I've made it. 356 00:19:45,936 --> 00:19:47,270 I've made it all the way. 357 00:19:47,354 --> 00:19:49,522 -Congrats. -Thank you. 358 00:19:53,735 --> 00:19:55,862 We'll start with laying out the bricks. 359 00:19:55,946 --> 00:19:59,199 Then we'll start breaking glass and piecing that glass around it. 360 00:19:59,282 --> 00:20:00,659 I've done installations before, 361 00:20:00,742 --> 00:20:03,620 but, typically, those take months and years to create. 362 00:20:04,621 --> 00:20:06,831 We can build up some depth on it too. 363 00:20:06,915 --> 00:20:11,002 I want the viewer, when they enter, to see this really serene space. 364 00:20:11,086 --> 00:20:13,922 And then they discover these elements that are out of place. 365 00:20:14,005 --> 00:20:15,548 The rabbit's gonna go here, yeah. 366 00:20:15,632 --> 00:20:17,259 So it's this corner that he goes in. 367 00:20:17,342 --> 00:20:18,843 So which one is hanging lower? 368 00:20:18,927 --> 00:20:20,929 -This bottom? -The black part hangs lower. 369 00:20:21,513 --> 00:20:23,014 Without the sphere, 370 00:20:23,098 --> 00:20:24,975 without that central pillar, 371 00:20:25,058 --> 00:20:26,434 there is no piece. 372 00:20:26,518 --> 00:20:28,186 All right, here we go. 373 00:20:28,812 --> 00:20:32,857 So, that is my focus as I get started. 374 00:20:33,483 --> 00:20:36,278 -I like that. I'll just tack it here. -Let's do that. 375 00:20:37,862 --> 00:20:40,407 What I'm concerned about in this installation 376 00:20:40,490 --> 00:20:43,368 is that the rondels we made, they have to match and line up seamlessly 377 00:20:43,451 --> 00:20:45,203 and appear like the broken floor. 378 00:20:45,287 --> 00:20:46,371 It looks really cool. 379 00:20:47,247 --> 00:20:50,250 -Yeah, and connect it here? -You want to do that? 380 00:20:50,333 --> 00:20:54,087 I have to think about how all of the pieces are gonna come together, 381 00:20:54,170 --> 00:20:58,717 and I'm wanting to just fill my side as much as I can. 382 00:20:58,800 --> 00:21:01,052 I won't move it at all. I'll squirt some glue in there. 383 00:21:02,095 --> 00:21:04,431 It's getting a little bit precarious, 384 00:21:04,514 --> 00:21:08,101 because since everything is literally connected, 385 00:21:08,184 --> 00:21:10,979 if one thing shifts, it could take the whole thing down. 386 00:21:11,771 --> 00:21:12,689 Whoa! 387 00:21:12,772 --> 00:21:14,024 Watch the back of that. 388 00:21:14,107 --> 00:21:15,525 Ooh! Ooh. 389 00:21:15,608 --> 00:21:17,444 -Be careful. -I am. 390 00:21:18,111 --> 00:21:19,654 Living life on the edge. 391 00:21:21,865 --> 00:21:24,743 I think this is my favorite piece I've made for the competition. 392 00:21:25,452 --> 00:21:28,455 I feel that this is a great ending piece 393 00:21:28,538 --> 00:21:31,374 because it's about hope and it's about looking forward. 394 00:21:31,458 --> 00:21:33,543 You guys, we did it. 395 00:21:34,169 --> 00:21:36,379 -Thank you, guys. Awesome job. -Looks good. Yeah! 396 00:21:36,463 --> 00:21:37,630 You all killed it. 397 00:21:37,714 --> 00:21:39,049 Group hug! 398 00:21:39,632 --> 00:21:41,509 -All right. 399 00:21:54,105 --> 00:21:59,986 I hope the evaluators can feel everything that I've put into this piece, 400 00:22:00,070 --> 00:22:05,367 the struggle and the accomplishment of working through that struggle. 401 00:22:05,450 --> 00:22:09,913 I've gotten to the other side of something really dark, 402 00:22:09,996 --> 00:22:12,916 and looking forward is so bright. 403 00:22:14,959 --> 00:22:17,420 The concept derives from the white space. 404 00:22:17,504 --> 00:22:20,757 The experience I want people to have is to enter this empty space, 405 00:22:20,840 --> 00:22:23,259 but that underneath of it, there's this life pushing through, 406 00:22:23,343 --> 00:22:25,053 finding a way to shine. 407 00:22:33,061 --> 00:22:35,438 Welcome to the grand finale gallery. 408 00:22:37,649 --> 00:22:40,318 This is Minhi's side of the gallery. 409 00:22:41,027 --> 00:22:44,697 I'm really thrilled to see that Minhi has pulled this off. 410 00:22:44,781 --> 00:22:49,411 Totally impressed that she was able to take something that seemed 411 00:22:49,494 --> 00:22:54,082 like it was going off the rails and bring it into a cohesive vision. 412 00:22:54,165 --> 00:22:56,418 And I guess that's, like, what the piece is about. 413 00:22:56,501 --> 00:22:58,044 Being able to pick yourself up 414 00:22:58,128 --> 00:23:01,673 from a really hard time and still make something powerful. 415 00:23:02,257 --> 00:23:06,428 I really am enjoying where these stringers or puddles of tar 416 00:23:06,511 --> 00:23:08,805 are coming into contact with some of the surfaces. 417 00:23:08,888 --> 00:23:11,224 The way this one, kind of, folds over, 418 00:23:11,307 --> 00:23:15,478 I feel like that animation really helps propel her idea. 419 00:23:15,562 --> 00:23:17,063 Yeah. She's using the space, 420 00:23:17,147 --> 00:23:20,024 and she's using the things in the space pretty effectively. 421 00:23:20,108 --> 00:23:21,526 Yeah, definitely. 422 00:23:22,026 --> 00:23:23,736 You know, one thing that I do really love 423 00:23:23,820 --> 00:23:28,116 is the real contrast between the brightness and lightness of this form 424 00:23:28,199 --> 00:23:32,745 versus, like, just the inky blackness of all of these other forms. 425 00:23:32,829 --> 00:23:35,748 I'm not sure that this solution with those stripes 426 00:23:35,832 --> 00:23:38,126 is exactly what she was aiming for at the beginning, 427 00:23:38,209 --> 00:23:40,170 but there is something about that shape 428 00:23:40,253 --> 00:23:43,214 and those colors that does convey the feeling 429 00:23:43,298 --> 00:23:45,341 of, like, a hot air balloon rising up. 430 00:23:45,425 --> 00:23:49,471 So in that way, I think she's bringing her concept forward 431 00:23:49,554 --> 00:23:52,724 in a way that's also pretty visually pleasing and engaging. 432 00:23:52,807 --> 00:23:53,683 Mm-hmm. 433 00:23:53,766 --> 00:23:57,729 But, I am trying not to see 434 00:23:58,438 --> 00:24:01,399 the silicone in different places. 435 00:24:01,483 --> 00:24:06,070 You know, I don't know if that's just inexperience or time. 436 00:24:06,154 --> 00:24:08,364 You know, there could be lots of reasons, but I feel like… 437 00:24:08,448 --> 00:24:11,743 I would have wished that that was done with a little bit more refinement. 438 00:24:13,036 --> 00:24:16,039 How hard is it to make multiple pieces 439 00:24:16,122 --> 00:24:18,625 and bring them all together for an installation? 440 00:24:18,708 --> 00:24:19,876 It's really hard. 441 00:24:19,959 --> 00:24:22,879 And usually people spend months prepping and planning, 442 00:24:22,962 --> 00:24:25,131 making parts, making sure they're gonna work. 443 00:24:25,215 --> 00:24:26,716 To try to do all of this 444 00:24:26,799 --> 00:24:29,469 in such a compressed time frame is really challenging. 445 00:24:29,552 --> 00:24:31,387 -Which is impressive. -Mm-hmm. 446 00:24:36,226 --> 00:24:38,728 This is John Moran's side of the gallery. 447 00:24:39,312 --> 00:24:42,273 "Tossed aside, the abandoned stuffed bunny, 448 00:24:42,357 --> 00:24:46,152 though torn and broken, is the source for new life." 449 00:24:46,736 --> 00:24:49,656 He is doing something interesting playing with the space. 450 00:24:49,739 --> 00:24:52,784 The white, broken tile is pretty interesting. 451 00:24:52,867 --> 00:24:58,081 Like, it's burst through. And I dig all the greenery in there. 452 00:24:58,164 --> 00:25:01,876 Seems like that must have been a lot of time torching together frit. 453 00:25:01,960 --> 00:25:02,794 But I'm not… 454 00:25:02,877 --> 00:25:05,171 I'm having all sorts of feelings… I guess that's good. 455 00:25:05,255 --> 00:25:07,715 …that I wouldn't have expected. 456 00:25:07,799 --> 00:25:10,802 And I'm not sure that I have a total conclusion yet 457 00:25:10,885 --> 00:25:12,929 about how I feel like this is working. 458 00:25:13,012 --> 00:25:17,225 Would you maybe say that John was going the less-is-more route? 459 00:25:17,308 --> 00:25:19,394 I don't see this as being less-is-more. 460 00:25:19,978 --> 00:25:22,939 Because what he does have here is kinda dense. 461 00:25:23,022 --> 00:25:26,109 There's a lot of detail, there's a lot of color and texture, 462 00:25:26,192 --> 00:25:27,235 a lot of realism. 463 00:25:27,318 --> 00:25:29,737 Like that bunny looks like it's soft, 464 00:25:29,821 --> 00:25:34,284 and it looks like it's been loved and dropped out of the stroller, 465 00:25:34,367 --> 00:25:35,702 and maybe hit by a car. 466 00:25:35,785 --> 00:25:37,370 -You know? -Oh, jeez. 467 00:25:37,453 --> 00:25:38,580 I mean, that's a lot. 468 00:25:38,663 --> 00:25:40,582 That's not just giving the idea of it, 469 00:25:40,665 --> 00:25:42,166 that's really embodying it, 470 00:25:42,250 --> 00:25:45,545 so I-- I think he's kind of a maximalist, 471 00:25:45,628 --> 00:25:47,380 uh, when you look at it. 472 00:25:48,047 --> 00:25:50,883 I think it's interesting that it's activating the floor. 473 00:25:50,967 --> 00:25:52,510 -That's original. -That is original. 474 00:25:52,594 --> 00:25:55,888 Seems like the jury is still out whether it paid off or not. 475 00:25:56,639 --> 00:25:59,684 What are your thoughts and feelings about this smaller piece 476 00:25:59,767 --> 00:26:01,853 where the grass is kinda poking through? 477 00:26:01,936 --> 00:26:03,563 You know, I actually love that. 478 00:26:03,646 --> 00:26:07,609 I mean, I feel like that encapsulates everything he's trying to do. 479 00:26:07,692 --> 00:26:10,820 It's a lot more humble than what he's got going on over here. 480 00:26:10,903 --> 00:26:14,907 I'm sure he would not feel comfortable just presenting us with that 481 00:26:14,991 --> 00:26:16,618 when these stakes are so high. 482 00:26:16,701 --> 00:26:18,911 But I actually think that is really successful. 483 00:26:20,204 --> 00:26:25,084 Two very different artists. Two very different art installations. 484 00:26:26,628 --> 00:26:27,795 Deliberation time. 485 00:26:28,546 --> 00:26:31,883 Who made better glass? John or Minhi? 486 00:26:32,592 --> 00:26:35,386 I feel like there were fewer issues in John Moran's piece, technically. 487 00:26:36,137 --> 00:26:39,098 Minhi's concept was definitely a little bit more clear 488 00:26:39,182 --> 00:26:41,309 and more clearly articulated in her piece. 489 00:26:41,392 --> 00:26:43,436 There's a lot going on in John Moran's piece 490 00:26:43,519 --> 00:26:45,438 that, I think, muddies the waters a bit, 491 00:26:45,521 --> 00:26:46,814 but at the same time, maybe, 492 00:26:46,898 --> 00:26:48,024 opens it up for, maybe, 493 00:26:48,107 --> 00:26:50,318 some other kinds of interpretations as well. 494 00:26:50,401 --> 00:26:53,696 Throughout the competition, which artist do you think grew more? 495 00:26:53,780 --> 00:26:56,574 John did come in at a high level of skill. 496 00:26:56,658 --> 00:26:59,744 He's shown us that that skill is real, 497 00:26:59,827 --> 00:27:02,080 and that he can do that over and over again. 498 00:27:02,622 --> 00:27:03,915 Where Minhi started, 499 00:27:03,998 --> 00:27:06,584 with that, sort of, Venetian-mirror-looking thing, 500 00:27:06,668 --> 00:27:07,960 to where she is now, 501 00:27:08,044 --> 00:27:12,548 that shows an incredible progression, a real willingness to experiment. 502 00:27:12,632 --> 00:27:13,883 It's pretty incredible. 503 00:27:13,966 --> 00:27:15,468 So you've both made a decision. 504 00:27:15,551 --> 00:27:16,427 Yes. 505 00:27:18,262 --> 00:27:20,556 This has been one of the best experiences of my life. 506 00:27:20,640 --> 00:27:23,226 No matter what happens, I've done everything I came here to do. 507 00:27:23,309 --> 00:27:25,436 And I'm definitely leaving this competition 508 00:27:25,520 --> 00:27:28,564 as a better artist and, I feel like, as a stronger human being. 509 00:27:29,941 --> 00:27:31,359 When I first came here, 510 00:27:31,442 --> 00:27:34,821 I thought that I was doing this for my husband, Jesse, 511 00:27:34,904 --> 00:27:39,325 but now I realize that I'm doing this for myself. 512 00:27:39,909 --> 00:27:42,578 I genuinely couldn't have asked for more than that. 513 00:27:44,122 --> 00:27:49,585 Minhi, John, you are two very creative and determined glassblowers. 514 00:27:49,669 --> 00:27:55,258 I'm impressed and pretty proud to see what you guys have put together. 515 00:27:55,341 --> 00:27:58,136 Both of your gallery showings were incredibly ambitious. 516 00:27:58,219 --> 00:27:59,554 It's pretty incredible. 517 00:28:00,138 --> 00:28:01,055 Thank you. 518 00:28:02,056 --> 00:28:06,602 John, this season, you were one of the "heavy hitters," 519 00:28:06,686 --> 00:28:08,563 but you never took that for granted. 520 00:28:08,646 --> 00:28:11,190 Time and time again, you came out swinging. 521 00:28:11,274 --> 00:28:13,317 You never rested on your laurels. 522 00:28:13,401 --> 00:28:16,446 You found a way to deliver and still be true to yourself. 523 00:28:16,529 --> 00:28:18,948 And that is why you made it to the finale. 524 00:28:19,741 --> 00:28:20,783 Thank you. 525 00:28:20,867 --> 00:28:23,536 -Minhi, our wild card. 526 00:28:23,619 --> 00:28:25,580 You showed up shaky. 527 00:28:26,205 --> 00:28:29,917 You were raw with grief and seemed unsure of yourself. 528 00:28:30,001 --> 00:28:32,336 But throughout the competition, 529 00:28:32,420 --> 00:28:35,631 we watched you use the hot shop as a way to heal. 530 00:28:36,299 --> 00:28:38,342 Minhi, we believe in you, 531 00:28:38,426 --> 00:28:40,762 and I hope now, you believe in yourself too. 532 00:28:41,429 --> 00:28:42,263 I do. 533 00:28:44,515 --> 00:28:46,142 We have come to a decision. 534 00:28:47,685 --> 00:28:51,522 This season's Blown Away Champion is… 535 00:28:57,320 --> 00:28:58,196 John. 536 00:29:00,656 --> 00:29:02,909 -You're awesome, Minhi. -Mm. 537 00:29:02,992 --> 00:29:04,452 So happy to be here with you. 538 00:29:04,535 --> 00:29:07,455 Congratulations, you are officially Best in Glass. 539 00:29:07,538 --> 00:29:08,623 Thank you so much. 540 00:29:11,083 --> 00:29:13,669 -Thank you, guys, for everything. -Oh, congratulations. 541 00:29:13,753 --> 00:29:14,629 I'm incredibly proud. 542 00:29:14,712 --> 00:29:17,215 I'm… I don't think I've been more proud of anything in my life. 543 00:29:17,882 --> 00:29:20,009 When I came here, I was excited and hopeful, 544 00:29:20,092 --> 00:29:24,680 and now I am the Blown Away Champion, and, uh, it's still very hard to believe. 545 00:29:24,764 --> 00:29:26,390 -Great job, Minhi. 546 00:29:27,475 --> 00:29:30,520 I have learned that the struggle is real. 547 00:29:31,479 --> 00:29:34,190 But if you open your eyes and look around, 548 00:29:34,273 --> 00:29:36,901 I promise that there is something to smile about. 549 00:29:37,401 --> 00:29:39,195 Thank you, guys, for everything. Really. 550 00:29:39,278 --> 00:29:41,280 -I don't know what to say. 551 00:29:41,364 --> 00:29:42,865 You're awesome. 552 00:29:42,949 --> 00:29:44,826 I have no idea what's next. 553 00:29:44,909 --> 00:29:46,953 I'm gonna keep going, making some new work. 554 00:29:47,036 --> 00:29:48,371 And I have some new ideas, 555 00:29:48,454 --> 00:29:50,790 so I'm excited to-- to go back to the studio, actually.