Plunge into the Arts with The Space Monkies & Candle Nerds

Please join us for our Plunge Into The Arts Artist Open House featuring the work of The Space Monkies (Carlos Diaz de Arce) & Candle Nerds (Lennidies Montanez)! Friday, September 26th 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 Carlos: Space (Carlos Diaz de Arce) is a multidisciplinary artist, storyteller, and founder of The Space Monkies — a visionary art brand and mythic universe where timelines blur and creativity becomes a force for transformation. Based in Florida, Space brings to life The Eternal Celestials — powerful beings from across dimensions, each painted as a living conduit for energy, emotion, and evolution.Every piece in the Space Monkies universe is more than visual — it’s designed to affect the space it enters, radiating elements like peace, strength, clarity, or joy. Through bold color, layered symbolism, and cosmic narrative, Space invites viewers to not just witness the work — but feel it.As both artist and brand, The Space Monkies represents a movement: one that aims to evolve culture through myth, connection, and creative force.Artist Statement — Carlos “Space” Diaz de ArceMy work emerges from a living mythos — a visual universe known as The Eternal Celestials. These beings, drawn from forgotten timelines, distant planets, and imagined futures, are each imbued with distinct essence: some radiate peace, others summon strength, clarity, growth, or joy. No two are the same. Each painting is both character and presence — a vessel for energy meant to transform the space it occupies.Working as Space within the Space Monkies project, I create to connect the unseen and the felt. These works are designed not just to be observed, but to be experienced — to shift the emotional and energetic resonance of their environment.Art, in this context, is not decoration.It is activation.

About Lennidies: Lennidies Montanez is a visionary candle sculptor whose work explores transformation, culture, and identity through the medium of wax. Her evocative series, Evolution Candles, pushes the boundaries of traditional candle-making—melding artistry, storytelling, and design in bold, contemporary forms.

Her journey into sculptural candle art began with her successful candle business, where crafting handmade candles sparked a deeper curiosity about form, texture, and design. This foundation in candle-making inspired her to research, experiment, and ultimately discover a more expressive and artistic approach—giving birth to the Evolution Candles collection.

Montanez’s work has been recognized and exhibited across prominent South Florida art institutions. Her piece Pines was selected for the Pine and Palm Exhibition at the Coral Springs Museum of Art, while Stages, a sculptural meditation on growth and resilience, was featured in P’ankū Magazine. Her vibrant candle Sunshine was exhibited at Hotspots Arts / Dennis Dean Gallery, reflecting her dynamic use of color and emotional energy.

Montanez regularly showcases her evolving collection at Hollywood Arts Park every third Saturday of the month, connecting directly with the community and inviting audiences to experience the tactile intimacy of her work.

She created a special series of Evolution Candles exclusively for the Wiener Museum of Decorative Arts (WMODA). Her Flambé-colored piece was personally gifted to the museum’s owner, while her Elements candles are available for purchase in the WMODA museum store.

Currently, Montanez is exhibiting three Caribbean-inspired pieces—Mar de Ritmos, Raíz de Fuego, and Flor de Sol—with ArtsUnited Florida at the Dennis Dean Gallery. On Saturday, August 2nd, she was honored with the Artist's Choice Award, celebrating her distinctive voice and contributions to contemporary sculptural art.

Also check out other Arts events in Lauderdale By The Sea, Exhibitions in Lauderdale By The Sea, Health & Wellness events in Lauderdale By The Sea.