Sun Wheel - Differences Unite Us

Materials: Brass disc, copper sheet metal, copper rivets
Dimensions: 1 inch brass disc

Photo credit: Guldem Vaccaro

Guldem Vaccaro

I am originally from Istanbul, Turkey, but I have lived abroad (Norway and the United States) for more than a decade. This has allowed me to draw on different cultures for inspiration. I am from a family of artists with my father being a painter amongst several other things and my mother being a designer in textiles. My interest in expressing myself with art began in earnest with rhythmic gymnastics and many years of modern dance.

I am a Food Scientist (master’s degree) and my new profession is creating jewelry art! As disparate as they might seem, these professions have something in common; I find that as a consumer-oriented food product developer, I am using similar line of thought in designing and developing jewelry pieces. Jewelry design is also very much an art that allows for creative expression, which I find very exciting.

There are very many pieces of jewelry out there, but I think that those that are handmade are more meaningful because they are unique and made with a lot of thought and care. I’d like to eventually create a signature jewelry line, but I think I have a lot to learn for that and I am enjoying the learning process immensely.

I am mostly interested in metals and wire. Adding some beads to these combinations is like adding spices to a food product! Silver is my main adornment. But I am open to working with any kind of metal (precious or base).


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.