Green Inspiration

Sometimes an event can be the perfect stage to send a message, especially one that is green. Last year event designer David Stark made quite the statement by decorating the Cooper Hewitt National Design Awards gala with thousands of shreds of used paper. We asked the design maverick about the inspiration behind the now-legendary “paper waste topiaries,” cool ways to bring the garden indoors and his latest green discoveries.

For the Cooper Hewitt Museum, how did you come up with your idea for the recycled paper topiaries?
I had just attended a fashion party that was supposedly a “green” event where a burlap tablecloth and green-hued theatrical lighting were less than convincing to me as being eco-sensitive. During the evening, a man got on stage and announced to the crowd, “The revolution starts here!” and I thought to myself, “you’ve GOT to be kidding!!”

That event’s lack of real “eco-cred” became a nagging and symbolic line drawn in the sand to me. Since parties are inherently about waste, I asked myself how event décor could be made entirely out of something that was already waste, rather than go out and buy more stuff.

I’d been fascinated by the sheer beauty of paper shreds and every office, large and small, creates so much of it. The light bulb went off in my brain: this is the perfect material to speak to the problem at large!

Green weddings are becoming more popular. How have you incorporated elements of nature indoors?
I’ve used small elements, such as a bed of grass for escort cards or making the escort cards themselves out of natural materials such as beach shells delicately painted with guests’ names. For the Sundance Institute, we installed larger thematic décor to create a sense “place” within their New York City gala event. The gorgeous landscape of Utah was brought to life conceptually where leaves on regional trees and woodland wildlife were both handcrafted from old maps of the area.

What’s your favorite new green discovery?
Umlungu is a web site that sells crafts from Africa made entirely out of things typically seen as garbage. Check out these adorable animals and flowers made from plastic bags and cans. I don’t believe that any green initiative inspires these artisans but because money and supplies are tight, these are the only materials they have access to. I adore the fact that innovation and eco-sensitivity are by accident!

For the recent DIFFA Dining by Design Table we created for Benjamin Moore, we used these amazing “flowers” made from shavings from the wood shop floor in Bali. I love that they are made from leftovers and beautiful to boot!

Did you make any resolutions for Earth Day?
Eat and cook at home more, and get take out/to go less!

David Stark Design (87 Luquer Street, Brooklyn 718-534-6777) produces and designs a wide range of events, from intimate dinner parties to elaborate weddings, museum openings, foundation and non-profit benefit galas, and large-scale corporate functions for clients including Target, Condé Nast, MOMA, and the New York City Opera.

PHOTO CREDIT: Courtesy of David Stark Events and Production

Eco-Chic Entertaining is a special series for the month of April that is dedicated to the best green vendors, products and services.