Review: Blown Away

 

Blown Away - Reality Television Show

In mid 2020 Melinda and I started watching tv together in different states. She lives in Texas and I'm in Idaho. We call each other and watch the same show as a social outlet. She came up with the great idea of including Shanna in an additional phone/tv session. We began this social experiment with the show Blown Away on NetFlix. Blown Away is a glass blowing competition reality show.  The experiment was and is a success.  We loved this show and have since added other series to our watched list.

Blown Away is produced in Canada and follows the standard format of challenge, judging, and one winner per episode and one competitor sent home. There are two seasons with 10 contestants competing in each. This competition has an international flavor with competitors coming from around the world.

If you like artistic pursuits and competition reality shows this is absolutely worth watching. Interestingly PBS ran two documentaries on glass blowing around the same time we were watching Blown Away. 

1. Pilchuck: A Dance with Fire about the creation and growth of the Pilchuck glass art school in Washington

2. Chihuly: River of Glass about the glass artist Dale Chihuly one of the founding members of the Pilchuck school and famed artist

In 2017 Shanna and I attended an Alton Brown concert in Salt Lake City. There was a Chihuly sculpture in the entrance hall.

Salt Lake City

In 2014 I was in Las Vegas for a conference and was able to visit a Chihuly installation and exhibition in the Bellagio Hotel.

Las Vegas

We now know so much more about glass art.  I am in awe of the artists who work in such a wondrous and scary medium.  - Jenny

My New Friend

I love my family. My siblings are all so supportive of each other it's really quite remarkable. If we ever need help or encouragement all we need to do is reach out to each other. I didn't realize how depressed I was but Nan figured it out.

I was still sequestered at home in order to avoid contact with people. The new vaccine was not available for me yet so it I was still unable to freely go and do like I want. I know I'm an introvert and staying home is always awesome, but at the one year mark I was tired and depressed. It's one thing to choose to stay home and it's another thing to be stuck at home because it's the only safe choice.

I got a mystery box from Amazon and upon opening found my new blue friend. He's so cute and soft and I love him. Nan clearly knows about my love of stuffed animals. He definitely lifted my spirits and he sat in my living room near my sofa spot until I was able to go back to work. Now he lives in my home office.

Thanks Nan. - Jenny