“The Corning Museum of Glass inspires people to see glass in a new light,” said Eric Meek. “Blown Away is a global platform, and it’s exciting to think about how this will broaden glassmaking’s level of exposure.”
The series was filmed in the largest glassblowing studio ever built in North America, designed specifically for the scope and scale of the competition. The space allows 10 artists to work simultaneously, using two large glass-melting furnaces, 10 reheating furnaces and 10 individual work stations. The Craft and Design Glass Studio at Sheridan College in Toronto consulted on the studio design and aided the competitors for the first nine episodes.
Blown Away contestants include
- Deborah Czeresko – Veteran glass artist based in New York City
- Kevin Kiff – California-based glass artist
- Benjamin Kikkert – Vancouver-based glass artist
- Leah Kudel – Canadian glass artist
- Janusz Poźniak – British born, Seattle-based glass artist
- Patrick Proimeau – Canadian glass artist and glass studio operator
- Alexander Rosenberg – Philadelphia-based artist, educator, and writer
- Momoko “Momo” Schafer – Recent graduate of MassArt
- Annette Sheppard – Former CMoG glass artist and current management consultant
- Edgar Valentine – Tacoma-based glass artist
Guest judges include
- Chris Taylor – Pilchuck Glass School
- Marc Lepine – Gastronomy chef
- Jay MacDonell – Lighting designer
- Jesse Hirsch – Futurist
- Emily Pearce-Bibona – International wine judge and sommelier
- Perry Tung – Bonhams Auction House
- Catherine Osborne – Architecture & design expert
- Janet Morrison – Sheridan College
- Greta Hodgkinson – National Ballet of Canada
- Eric Meek – The Corning Museum of Glass
ABOUT THE CORNING MUSEUM OF GLASS
The Corning Museum of Glass is the foremost authority on the art, history, science, and design of glass. It is home to the world’s most important collection of glass, including the finest examples of glassmaking spanning 3,500 years. Live glassblowing demonstrations (offered at the Museum, on the road, and on the water) bring the material to life. Daily Make Your Own Glass experiences at the Museum enable visitors to create work in a state-of-the-art glassmaking studio. The campus in Corning includes a year-round glassmaking school—The Studio—and the Rakow Research Library, with the world’s preeminent collection of materials on the art and history of glass. Located in the heart of the Finger Lakes Wine Country of New York State, the Museum is open daily, year-round. Children and teens, 17 and under, receive free admission.