Materials: Sterling silver, baltic amber and glass treated by the sea
Dimensions: 20mm x 15mm x 48mm
This ring is made of sterling silver and thin leaves of 24 kt gold applied using kum boo technique. The ring is set with a piece of baltic amber and a fragment of crystal polished by the sea.
Different materials, some valuable like amber, another valueless like crystal, both beautiful, are returned by the sea.
Photo credit: Patricia Suarez Alvarez
Suarez Patricia Alvarez
Atelier Joyas
Gijon, Asturias. Spain
My name is Patricia Suarez. Im a jeweler from Gijon a small town in the northern coast of Spain.
I studied in Barcelona and I lived and worked there for 10 years. Now I run my own business, a workshop and gallery, in my hometown.
I get inspired by many little things, as well as by the sea and the forests. I like to work with different materials that I meet on my walks. Above all I like to work the metal with my hands.
Ganoksin hosts the jewelry list Orchid, with over 13,000 list members from all over the world, speaking from a wide range of technical and aesthetic experiences. The exhibition theme grew out of a desire to celebrate the creativity encompassed in this wide variety.
Artists were free to interpret the theme in any way they chose. Each artist could submit up to six pieces. Interpretations include uniting different materials into one cohesive form; intellectual and emotional “unitings”, where the meaning of the piece unites multiple concepts; the uniting of time - past, present and future; and a number that focus on the harmony created when uniting multiple materials and/or concepts.
The work submitted involved a wide range of jewelry techniques, from very traditional to very cutting edge, as well as using materials from traditional precious metals and gemstones to “re-purposed” and “up-cycled” materials.
The exhibition showcases 330 images chosen from entries from over 111 artists representing 26 countries.
Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Czech Republic, France, Greece, India, Israel, Italy, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Philippines, Serbia, Spain, Trinidad, Turkey, UK, USA, Venezuela, and the Virgin Islands
Many of the participants began their interest in jewelry at a young age. Some are relative newcomers to the field, and some have over 35 years of experience as professional jewelers and goldsmiths. While some grew up in families that were goldsmiths, and followed in those footsteps, others only began creating jewelry as adults.
