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Inside the Hot Shop: The Blown Away Contestants


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Contestant bios:
 

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Alexander Rosenberg

36-year-old Alexander is a college professor and visual artist based in Philidelphia.

He received a fine arts degree in glass from Rhode Island School of Design and then a Master of Science in Visual Studies from MIT. This prize-winning artist is definitely one to beat.

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Deborah Czeresko

Deborah is a New York based artist who has been working with glass since 1987.

She obtained a BA in psychology from Rutgers University and then attended graduate school in studio art at New Orleans’ Tulane University.

57-year-old Czeresko is a globally respected glass artist, who has been both an instructor and visting artist at many institutions around the world.

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Janusz Poźniak

53-year-old Janusz is a well-respected glassmaker.

He studied 3D design at West Surrey College Art and Design in Surrey and graduated in 1986.

After graduating with a BA he started working at The Glasshouse in Covent Garden under Christopher Williams and Annette Meech, who he had met whilst at college.

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Edgar Valentine

Edgar is the youngest in the competition, aged just 22!

He is currently working at Tacoma Glass Blowing studio, producing his own work and instructing beginners.

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Benjamin Kikkert

45-year-old Benjamin is a graduate of Sheridan College’s craft and design programme.

He now works full time as a hot glass designer and is even the President of the Glass Art Association of Canada!

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Annette Sheppard

37-year-old Annette currently works as a management consulant, but that might all change after she appears on the show.

She had previously worked as a professional glassblower for nearing 12 years!

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Momoko Schafer

Kristen Momoko Schafer – known as Momo – is a 24-year-old glass artist and instructor.

She is currently in her second year as Artist-in-Residence at New Street Glass Studio in Worcester, Massachusettes.

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Patrick Primeau

Patrick is a 44-year-old glass studio owner from Montreal, Canada.

His studio is called Atelier Welmo and is in Sainte-Julie, Quebec where he now resides.

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Leah Kudel

34-year-old Leah Kudel is a mixed media glass artist who has worked in a variety of studios as a resident across the world; from Canada to Indonesia, UAE to Italy!

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Kevin Kiff

Kevin is one of the younger contestants, being just 23-years-old.

He is originally from Santa Cruz, California but has just graduated from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

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Yeah, Janusz is...well, y'know...glass pun, shatter my whatever, something something glory hole. 😉

Except for in the finale, when he suddenly styled his hair like Tintin. What was that about?

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S2 contestant bios:

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Andi Kovel

Andi (50) is a designer and studio owner based in New York and brings 20 years of experience to the competition. She’s proud to be representing all the women in the glassblowing field who are often overlooked.

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Ben Silver

Ben (38) is a self-taught glass sculptor who is ready to prove himself in the hot shop. Glass is incredibly important to him, and he’s even sacrificed relationships while pursuing his craft.

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Brad Turner

Brad (42) is a fine art framer/artist from Toronto, Canada. He calls himself the “silent killer” of the hot shop, but he’s also a stay-at-home dad.

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Cat Burns

Cat (30) is a production glassblower who also works as a studio and teaching assistant. With 10 years under her belt, she’s the least experienced contestant in the hot shop—but she still feels right at home.

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Chris Taylor

Chris (49) brings 30 years of experience to the competition. In his career as an artist and lecturer, this self-described daredevil has influenced a lot of glass blowers—including previous contestants on this show.

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Eliot Walker

Eliot (31) is a sculptor/maker from St. Albands, England. He refers to himself as the show’s “random British guy.” He’s a bit intimidated by the cavernous hot shop, as he comes from a very small glass blowing community in the UK.

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Jason McDonald

Jason (35) is a master of fine arts student and is very proud to be a Black glass blower. He hopes to inspire more artists who look like him, and he’s ready to show off his work.

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Mike Shelbo

Mike (39) is known primarily as a flame worker, and his reputation for turning out off-kilter designs precedes him. He calls himself the show’s “wild card” and “underdog” with good reason.

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Nao Yamamoto

Nao (31) hails from Tokyo, Japan, where she works as a glass event instructor and artist. Working with glass not only makes Nao happy, it’s also helped her overcome anxiety.

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Tegan Hamilton

Tegan (34) comes to the hot shop from Melbourne, Australia where she works as a personal trainer and glass assistant. Her dream is to work in glass full-time.

 

 

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