Plunge into the Arts with Helen & Lonnie Finkelstein and "LuRu" Rudawsky

Please join us for our Plunge Into The Arts Artist Open House featuring the work of Helen Finkelstein and her late husband Lonnie Finkelstein & Janet "LuRu" Rudawsky! Friday, November 7th at 6:30pm at Plunge Beach Resort.

Complimentary registration and bar available with happy hour pricing! Parking $5 per vehicle.

Walk-ins are welcome!

About Helen Finkelstein: My love for clay began in 1983 as a novice ceramic artist I was totally connected to a kiln and glazes, building non functional vessels, always staying true to the authentic process. For me appreciating the transformation of clay, and being able to manipulate clay at different stages of the process, from cold damp workable clay, soft leather-hard to bone chalking dry is part of the challenge. With so many variables, challenges and heart aches going into completing a successful piece, opening the kiln after a firing is filled with anticipation, excitement, and sometimes disappointment.

Encouraged by my professor Elmer Graig and peers to exhibit my work in fine shops and organizations, namely the Bake House Complex in the Wynwood area, Clay Space on Lincoln Road, Balogh Jewelers, Jonny Boyd’s and numerous exhibits in the design district.

I have had the pleasure of donating several pieces for charity auctions and fund raisers such as Art for Aids bringing in some handsome bids for the cause.

After a long sabbatical to pursue my medical career, I have now returned with a new approach as my ideas have changed with time and experience, allowing myself to break out of being a purest working only with clay. Keeping an open mind, working with an array of materials, mosaics, glass, and acrylics has been somewhat of a rebirth. This revitalizing attitude of mixed media has expanded my world as an artist with unlimited restrictions.

My latest works are highly texturized elongated dysmorphic body forms made with some recycled materials to give them a second life. Some figures are genderless, curvy, colorful and tipsy requiring somewhat of a MacGyver building.

The “freedom” of being able to integrate all materials at hand has rekindled my passion and love for creating art in all its forms. I would hope to inspire anyone that would like to create and try something new to break away and explore all possibilities to be resourceful to create outside the box.

About Lonnie Finkelstein: Lonnie has an extensive career of fashion and hair design in New York City. He was the successful owner and designer of Apple Haircutters. Opportunities presented for Lonnie in Florida and he decided to change careers paths. Years later, he was forced to retire due to a failed back surgery and since has immersed himself into perfecting his skills for creating outrageous, one-of-a-kind glass on glass art. In addition, Lonnie also works with raw bamboo to create beautiful colorful lights.

He and his wife Helen share a studio space in their home in Boynton Beach Florida. Together they spending many hours a day working on creating his colorful whimsical ladies. He can be found in his studio at all hours of the night, grinding, cutting fastidiously working on his piece. His inspiration comes from different areas, past experiences, friends, the love of nature and the beauty of the human body. In Lonnie’s case, much of his inspiration stems from multiple failed back surgeries which left him in chronic pain. His art helps take his mind to a different place.

About Janet "LuRu" Rudawsky: LuRu has made her home in Hollywood, Florida for the past 20 years and has been involved with the local art, craft and event scenes. For the past twelve years, as the owner of Tortuga Tile Works, she created custom, artisan, ceramic tile pieces. She was a regular at craft shows from 2010 –2015 and then moved on to creating custom work for residential and commercial properties. She was a founder and co-producer of the Florida Day of the Dead Celeberation, as well as heading up the craft booths, décor, and signage. She also worked on the puppet building crew. She received several County grants to hold workshops for the festival. She was part of the second Zero Empty Spaces location in downtown Hollywood, and more recently she has become involved with the Broward Art Guild and the SOBRA. She is currently producing work for a CIP grant. During her career as a mixed media sculptor, she has created not only ceramic sculpture, but also has worked with video art, steel, wood, fabric, paper maché, fiberglass, drawing and painting. She earned her BFA in ceramics at The Ohio State University and her MFA in sculpture at Louisiana State University.