Flipping the classic “message in a bottle,” the sea here becomes the sender: bottles ride undulating waves of pale-blue fabric, embellished with a necklace of semiprecious stones, Murano glass beads, and freshwater pearls — the pearls doubling as stoppers and as messages pleading for help.

Miniature portholes reinforce the nautical setting, while a restrained palette of aquamarine, pale blue, silver, and white evokes tropical waters around threatened Caribbean and Pacific island nations.

Uniting coastal décor with environmental awareness, this contemporary miniature calls attention to ocean health and conservation.

Materials: Fabric, mirrors, miniature portholes, aquamarine, hemimorphite, Murano glass beads, freshwater pearls, acrylic paint, paper, dollhouse miniatures

Framing: Custom framed with museum glass in a silver wooden frame in collaboration with Chevy Chase Art Gallery, Washington, DC.