In his 30-plus years as an event planner, David Stark has staged galas for just about all the major NYC museums, openings for Hermès, weddings the world over, and Christmas extravaganzas galore, including for the State Department. But he says he’s never been asked to do something creative for Hanukkah.
That was until a few years ago when he found himself with his nephew and niece in Miami at the start of the holiday. Lacking a menorah, he fashioned one out of potatoes. “It made me realize that I can look at the world around me and make a menorah out of all kinds of things,” he tells us. Since then, David has given himself and stylist/photographer Susie Montagna, the first person he hired to join his team of now nearly 200, the annual assignment of making a batch of DIY candelabra.
All of their designs adhere to the classic menorah configuration: 8 candleholders plus a ninth that serves as the shamash, the helper candle used to light the others. They’re composed of materials the two have on hand and of things they gather. In addition to the produce and bakery aisles, parts come from hardware and craft stores, vintage shops, and eBay and Etsy. They’re David and Susie’s version of fun: “We just love to make things,” he says. Take a look and this year for Hanukkah, December 14-22, consider fashioning your own menorah. Just be sure to keep an eye on it when the candle are lit.
Photography as credited courtesy of David Stark Design (@david_stark_design).
Edible Menorahs
Above: David’s first and one of his simplest menorahs requires nothing more than two and a half potatoes. He says you can use a pocket knife or a drill to cut out the candle-sized holes. Photograph by Corrie Hogg.
Above: David and his staff are known for their inventive uses of bread as centerpieces. Their candelabra is held together with kebab skewers and toothpicks. Photograph by Corrie Hogg.
Above: This sculptural carrot menorah is balanced thanks to a hidden metal T-shaped armature that David inserted using a drill (but he says skewers could also work). He also used a drill to make the candle holes. Just make sure your work is balanced before lighting any candles. Photograph by Susie Montagna.
Above: Donuts are a Hanukkah treat—and can also be put to use as readymade candleholders. Photograph by Corrie Hogg.
Menorahs Made from Familiar Objects
Above: The scullery menorah—stack three scrub brushes and simply insert candles. Photograph by Corrie Hogg.
Above: Yet another use for steel wool. David says, “just stick the candles into the fibers of the steel wool,” no holders needed. Photograph by Susie Montagna.
Above: Have you ever wondered how to put perforated brick to unexpected use? David and Susie drilled holes and added wire to secure the candles, but they say you could simply heat the bottom of the candles with matches and use the melted wax to hold them in place. Photograph by Susie Montagna.
Above: Once David and Susie had collected nine vintage metal funnels and companion silver tapers, their menorah was good to go. Photograph by Susie Montagna.
For more menorahs and candle sources, too, see:
