Tim Wolak

“Picture Yourself in Oz!” was one of our most popular attractions at Munchkinland Market Days held each year on the grounds of the former Yellow Brick Road Gift Shop. This whimsical, yet realistic work of art was created by artist/sculptor Tim Wolak of Hammond, Indiana. He began the project more than a fourteen years ago and has worked painstakingly to make this the delight of every child AND adult who sees it. Joy spreads across the face of every person who looks upon this life-size Oz tableau. All are welcome to be immortalized as they pose to be photographed with Tim’s work. It’s all there – Dorothy, Toto, Tin Man, Cowardly Lion, Scarecrow, Winky Guard, Flying Monkey, Trumpeter, Munchkin Soldiers, Wicked Witch of the West, Lollipop Kid, The Coroner and even the Apple Tree – life-size and beautiful. Simply step in and picture yourself in Oz! Often several generations of one family will arrive to be photographed together in ‘Oz!’ Wolak takes great care in creating these life-size duplicates of the original Wizard of Oz characters as depicted in the 1939 MGM classic. He spends hours at flea markets, garage sales and swap meets in addition to the occasional dumpster diving in order to get the ‘just-right’ materials to assemble these figures. He also uses paper mache and foam padding to shape his creations. Other materials utilized run the gamut from acrylic paints to aluminum foil to felt and newspaper. He makes sure his characters are as authentic as possible by using ping pong balls for eyes, individually applying each eyelash, using artificial fingernails for teeth and airbrushing other facial features onto the figure. Most years, at least one new figure is added to the “Picture Yourself in Oz” collection and no one is sure where it will stop! Be sure to visit Tim and his fascinating art at the 2009 Chesterton Wizard of Oz Festival. Tim is also the artist for this year's poster of the 28th Wizard of Oz Festival returning back to Chesterton, Indiana in "There's No Place Like Home". Biography by Allen Pease

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