Bfd Firehouse Studios

Specialties

BFD Firehouse Studios was founded by Walter Kenul and Janet Rutkowski in 1980. We specialises in a wide spread of custom iron works such as metal sculptures, Outdoor sculptures, custom decorative furniture.

History

Established in 1980.

«Great art, whether it be visual, sculptural, functional or audio, has a presence, a spirit which is truly felt. We seek to incorporate that presence, that spirit into every creation.

Art is an unfounded religion whose inspiration comes from a divine source. That power is within each of us, and we should use it in everything we do, in all walks of life. It is the power of transformation. Transformation of the mundane into the divine.»

B.F.D. Firehouse Studios originated In the 1980’s in a restored firehouse in Brooklyn. Husband and wife design team of Walter Kenul and Janet Rutkowski laid the foundation for their business there. The completion of their upstate studio in Barryville, Sullivan County has been the driving force behind a new series of furniture being presented in May 2007.

Meet the Business Owner

Janet R.

Business Owner

A Little History

Born in Staten Island, I am a native New Yorker. I attended the High School of Art and Design but didn’t find my calling until ten years after art school. At first I took some life drawing classes at the New School but then I found sculpting. I happened upon the studio of Arturo DiModica (who is the creator of the infamous bull on Wall Street) where I started to learn stone carving. Then afterwards studied with Mr. Sabastiano Mineo and his son Ron at Art Life Studios on the upper east side.

There, I work in traditional stone and wood carving along with sculpting clay.

I was fortunate to have a teacher and to this day, dear friend Ron Mineo who directed me onto my true path of metal working. I studied at the Sculpture Center on the upper east side. Steel /​welding was an instant love and I have been working in it ever since. My career in metalwork has gone full circle over the past twenty five years. I began with the abstract, moved onto the functional, extended to