Serious surfers dream about barrel waves, where surging water folds over the sea surface and ensconces the boarder in an awe-inspiring hollow tube.

San Diego native Katelyn Ridgeway '13 seeks to re-create that thrill for visitors to the sixth Barbara L. Kuhlman Foundation's Fiber Arts and Wearable Arts Exhibition with her creation, "Perfect Barrel." With the help of her father, an amateur surfer and professional contractor, Ridgeway built a large curved cylinder that contains gleaming golden-blue hues and handmade beaded and crinkled silk chiffon resembling kelp. A soft ocean soundtrack plays inside the womb-like structure.

"My piece is largely experiential, and I hope people will take away at least a brief feeling of wonder," said Ridgeway, who majors in fiber science and apparel design (FSAD) in the College of Human Ecology. "You should be able to step inside and feel as though you are actually enfolded within one of these great waves."

Ridgeway's piece is one of eight original student works on display in "Membrane," an exhibit that opened Sept. 19 in the Jill Stuart Gallery in the new Human Ecology Building and runs through Nov. 1. The pieces, all by FSAD students, are funded by scholarships from the Kuhlman Foundation, which is dedicated to supporting the study of fiber arts.

"We are honored and delighted to display our talented students' work and to be the very first show in the building's new gallery," said Anita Racine, FSAD senior lecturer. "We look forward to many more Kuhlman exhibitions in this space."

The exhibition explores the broad concept of membranes that envelope individuals, culture and systems, with influences from fashion, nature, history, popular and fine art, and the students' heritage. As they conceived their works, applied for funds and constructed their pieces, they were mentored by Racine and Associate Professor Van Dyk Lewis.

Lulu Mu '13 examines the creation myths of her Korean and Chinese ancestors in "Genealogy," for which she hand cut delicate figures from film and mythology into bleached white paper that stretches nearly to the height of the gallery. "I hope people will appreciate the craft of paper-cutting and examine the references I used in my piece and recontextualize them in their own lives," she added.

For "Francesca," Katie Elks '12 crafted a vibrant, hand-beaded red silk gown accessorized with gold jewelry as a representation of the women who penetrate the seemingly impermeable layers of Mafia families. Italian history, the late fashion designer Gianni Versace and such classic mob films as "The Godfather" and "Goodfellas" inspired her.

A first-time designer for the annual Kuhlman Exhibition, Elks called it "an amazing opportunity to show my work to all of the university."

Ted Boscia is assistant director of communications for the College of Human Ecology.