Florida Tech Museums Director to Lead Tour of ‘Flora and Fiber’ Show

Ruth Funk Center for Textile Arts
Hosts Free Event Saturday, July 15

MELBOURNE, FLA. — Executive Director and Chief Curator of University Museums Carla Funk will lead a free public gallery tour of the Flora and Fiber exhibition on display at Florida Institute of Technology’s Ruth Funk Center for Textile Arts.

Carla Funk has no relation to Ruth Funk, who was founding director of the arts center.

The tour will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 15.

Curated exclusively from the Center’s permanent collection, Flora and Fiber presents the botanical sources, application and iconography in textiles from three continents, specifically highlighting Asian textiles’ profound and enduring influence on the development of modern fashion and design.

In Funk’s visually-engaging talk, participants will learn about the decorative inspiration and ingenious application of plants and fiber materials in diverse cultures around the world.

Featuring over 60 textiles and related objects, the exhibition includes such highlights as an 18th century handwoven bamboo undervest from China, hand-dyed indigo textiles, Art Deco-era kimono, and a cape by acclaimed fashion designer Mariano Fortuny.

Flora and Fiber is on view through Aug. 26.

Regular hours for the Ruth Funk Center are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday to Friday and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. Admission is free. The center is on the Florida Tech campus in Melbourne, 150 W. University Blvd. For more information, visit http://textiles.fit.edu or call 321-674-8313.

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