Jessica Wesolek
Friends who know me will sometimes ask what I do in my spare time. They think this is a very funny joke, but actually, every once in awhile, I do have a minute or two to just “fool around”.

And that is how this discovery came about.

We used to have quite a few candles around the gallery for various reasons and most of them were “dripless”.

On a package of dripless candles, it will often say to keep the burning candle out of drafts. I wondered why, of course, because that is what I do. So, some experimentation seemed in order.

We had several varieties of breezes blowing through the gallery at different times, and I set the lit candles in their path - turning them at intervals. I even put them in front of a fan on low speed setting.
This resulted in candle “sculptures” that were really amazing. I ran out and collected all sorts of old candlelabra and candlesticks and went to town. If rusty antique ones could be found, it was even better for creating that “gothic” feeling. The challenge was to see just how far I could “grow” the sculpture off to one side or the other before it would fall off. I would take it as far as I thought it could go, and then turn the candles so that the drips would start to accumulate on the opposite side - thus balancing it out. This quickly becomes an addiction, of course.

What was really entertaining was that customers would want to take these elaborate concoctions home. Here in Santa Fe, everybody is visiting, so some very creative ways of transporting had to be devised. One floor-standing rusted candlelabra (heavy!) with six candles had to make it all the way to New York, and I hope it did. Of course, the new owners could always create a sculpture of their own if that one did not survive. They were given tips on how to do that.

There are two additional tips to share: the breeze must be strong enough to affect the flame so that it burns pretty much at an angle, and must not be strong enough to blow the candle out. These sculptures take some time and you must stay in the vicinity to keep an eye on them. Also, spread newspaper over the floor or surface under the burning candles to protect it from dripping wax, and don't be concerned if the wax drips all over the candleholder itself. It’s all part of the charm.

These candle sculptures make wonderful home accents, and, in the right holder, one of them would be a great centerpiece for a dinner table. (No, I am not becoming Martha Stewart.)
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