Erik and Israel Nordin in their Michigan Avenue studio

Spirit 0

Detr I

Julie Edgar I Special to the Jewish News

The makers of
the Downtown
Menorah keep
moving on up.

W

hen Erik Nordin got
a call from The Shul

in West Bloomfield
about creating an outdoor meno-
rah that would rise 8 feet in the
center of Downtown Detroit, he
saw it as an interesting design
challenge.

The company he runs with his
little brother Israel operates on
custom orders, and this symbol of
religious freedom would be a first.
After more discussion with the
rabbi's wife, the scope of the proj-
ect changed: The menorah would
be around 24 feet high. And they

had a month to complete the
project.
"They had a belief in it, a
vision, and we were lucky enough
to help in our way:' says Erik, 49.
"Just dream big." He and Israel are
the founders of the Detroit Design
Center, which is responsible for
other iconic sculptures around
the city.
Israel Nordin, a "master
builder; according to his brother,
worked 10-hour days for two
weeks to ready the menorah for
one of the first Menorah in the D
candlelighting ceremonies some
five years ago. The Art Deco mar-
vel of steel, glass and copper will
be raised this year on Dec. 27,
in Cadillac Square (for more, see
"Lighting Up The Motor City" on
page TK10).
The idea behind the lighting
was to celebrate the festival of
freedom in a public place, and the

menorah had to be both beautiful
"and something the city would
be proud of' says Rabbi Kasriel
Shemtov, the spiritual leader of
The Shul. "We found out about
the Nordin brothers — I don't
remember who gave us the name
— and it was meaningful to us
that they worked in the city. The
fact that it's designed in the city
was meaningful to us. They've
come through with flying colors;
we're very proud of it"
The Nordin brothers, who are
not Jewish, typically work on
large-scale commissions for cities,
corporations, hospitals and indi-
viduals, but they also make small-
er pieces in metal that are perfect
as gifts, including a 3-inch-high
replica of the Downtown Menorah
on a leather lace, letter holders
personalized by neighborhood,
bookends, magazine racks and
business-card holders. Prices

details

In addition to the Detroit Design
Center, the Nordins' work is also
featured at the Michigan Design
Center in Troy. To purchase an item
or learn more about their work,
email Erik Nordin at
detroitdesigncenter@gmail.com .

The Quicken Aquarium

46

December 15 • 2016

