Dennis Turner
Materials: Sterling and fine silver, 24 K gold
Dimensions: 3.5 cm x 8 cm
This pendant is comprised of serveral separate panals joined by cold connections. The idea was to take a Southwestern US theme (a scorpion) and join it with Asian techniques (Keum boo and fused gold powder)and motifs (the stylized scorpion is also a dragon). It deliberately includes hammer textures on portions of the metal (fluted and dimpled edgework, hammered bail).
Photo credit: Denny Turner
Denny’s Designs
San Diego, CA. USA
Since I retired from the land use planning business a few years, I’ve gotten very involved designing and making jewelry and teaching silversmithing. I currently teach begining and advanced silversmithing at the San Diego Mineral and Gem Society in San Diego. I have a special love of both Southwestern US and Asian designs and often attempt to work both into a single design. I love rich textures in metal and contrasting colors. In addition to metalsmithing I am an accomplished lapidary and often work unfaceted stones into my pieces, sometimes making them the focal points and at other times making them but accents.
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.