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A tissue box covered in assorted seashells dispenses light blue tissues, resting on white sand. Loose seashells, a piece of coral, and small green artificial plants are scattered around the box, with tall green plant stems standing behind it.
Box of Waves
Courtesy of the Harn Museum of Art, Photography by Foad Seyed Mohammadi

Box of Waves

Artist Bea Nettles (American, born 1946)
Date1984
MediumDye transfer print with mylar overlays
Dimensions9 x 9 in. (22.9 x 22.9 cm)
ClassificationsPhotographs
Credit LineGift of Bea Nettles
Object number1995.17.4
Collections
Visual DescriptionA tissue box covered in assorted seashells dispenses light blue tissues, resting on white sand. Loose seashells, a piece of coral, and small green artificial plants are scattered around the box, with tall green plant stems standing behind it.
Photograph of a child's hands in colorful checkered sleeves reaching for assorted seashells scattered on bright white sand. Behind the shells sit small rectangular blocks depicting painted fish, arranged alongside a few sprigs of artificial aquatic plants.
Hands and Shells
Bea Nettles
1984
Three fish figurines rest on rippled white sand alongside small scattered seashells, a fuzzy brown plant, and green sprigs. The fish include a patterned blue-and-white ceramic one, a multi-colored painted one, and a solid yellow leaping one.
Fish on Shore
Bea Nettles
1984
A plate with a solid blue center and a rim of sculpted fish and shells rests on white sand next to fuzzy brown seaweed strands. Slightly behind the sand sits a yellow leaping fish figurine.
Swordfish
Bea Nettles
1984
A child in a green shirt leans over a wooden boardwalk railing, holding small white flowers out over dark water. A lush, green marshy landscape with bushes and trees stretches into the background under a clear blue sky.
Bridge
Bea Nettles
1984
A person sleeps next to various objects, among them a shell, a paper bag puppet, and flowers.
Bea Sleeping
Bea Nettles
1984
A black and white cat crouches behind a house-shaped teapot, two sculpted birds, and a blue textured oval. Above, a purple bird cutout and a yellow star hang against a light blue backdrop near some tall grass.
Teapot
Bea Nettles
1984
A child in a blue sweater looks down.
Kisses
Bea Nettles
1984
A child in movement next to a table where several miniature toy pumpkins are present.
Pumpkins
Bea Nettles
1984
A ceramic cow figure sits next to branches extended from outside the frame. From one the branches hangs a small drawn face.
Cow
Bea Nettles
1984
A paper figure stands next to a Christmas tree, surrounded by various objects. In the background, a paper snowman can be seen.
Snowman
Bea Nettles
1984
A child in a red dress holds up paper hearts.
String of Hearts
Bea Nettles
1984
Green, white, peach, and yellow sea sponges, corals, barnacles, and seashells.
XCIV
Albert Seba
1734-1755

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