New Exhibit Spotlight: Oceanic Origins

Written by Mandy Abel-Zurstadt

Oceanic Origins is a showcase of minerals inspired by the deep sea. Some of the included items are on loan to the Museum from Diane Eames or Sharleen Harvey. One of our 2025 summer interns, Paulina Zamarripa, designed, curated, and installed this collection. She also drew all the illustrations and hand-lettered the signage appearing in the case.

Intern, Paulina Zamarripa, in front of their exhibit, Oceanic Origins.

Though there are no touchables featured in this exhibit, visitors are encouraged to engage in a creative exercise: imagining what kinds of treasures mermaids might find and collect from the ocean floor if they were real.

Ocean scene and three mermaids by Paulina

The display features Texas topaz and fluorite, New Mexico fluorite, a peridot ring (courtesy of Diane Eames); a freeform topaz carving, aquamarine cut gems, rutilated quartz (courtesy of Sharleen Harvey); pearls, and other minerals.

This collage of images shows the installation process of the Oceanic Origins exhibit. A) the layout of the exhibit within Rice Museum. B) Cutting out handcolored 2D coral. C) hand-drawn and -colored mermaids and fish cut out of paper. D) Framed hand-colored and drawn Topaz

Oceanic Origins can be visited in the Museum’s upper hallway until the end of February 2026. Come experience this beautiful blend of science and art in person!