TIM WOLAK CREATES AND KEEPS OZ CHARACTERS ALIVE
AT 20th WIZARD OF OZ FESTIVAL IN
CHESTERTON, INDIANA - SEPTEMBER 14 -16
(By Dee Dunheim) For Immediate Release
This image "reprinted by permission, © 2001, all rights reserved."
Little Timmy Wolak grew up in Hegewisch, Illinois and, as most families around the country, his clan was glued to the annually-televised Wizard of Oz movie. At the same time in Lansing, Illinois, young Renee Reinsma watched the same extravaganza each year. Although she'd hide her face when the Wicked Witch of the West appeared and was scared during the flying monkey scene, her dedication to the theme, music and motto of the story never ceased to intrigue her.
Wolak and Reinsma spotted each other at a costume party in 1987. Tim was the Grim Reaper. Renee was Elvira. Sparks flew. "We started dating immediately," says Renee, "and by the next year we were doing all sorts of nutsy Oz stuff together." Their interest in Oz - and each other - escalated.
Tim Wolak, now 43, is involved in a very advanced form of arts and crafts involving Oz characters. The Hammond Indiana resident's life is a continual scavenger hunt as he meanders through flea markets, garage sales, swap meets, fabric shops and alleyways for the perfect materials and props to re-create the most recognizable characters ever created. With an intriguing mix and match of materials and techniques he produces his life-size statues.
TECHNIQUES, TOOLS AND TALENT
An admitted "nut for authenticity," Wolak's works are meticulously rendered. "Oz figures start with two-by-fours for the skeletons," explains Wolak. From there, almost anything goes: Paper mache is made for shaping bodies. He uses foam padding, tin foil wrapped around newspapers, acrylic paints, vinyl-like spackling and air brushing techniques. Wolak had a tendency to use felt for many outfits. "Originally it was to get good colors and to save money," he admits. "But, when I read a book on the making of the movie, I discovered," says the artist, "that designers of the original MGM outfits used felt - which drew me even closer to that material - especially for use in the creation of the hats and uniforms of my munchkins."
The artist's self proclaimed "insane" creativity is seen down to the minutest cosmetic detail - complete with individually placed eyelashes. Starting with styrofoam mannikin heads, imbedded ping pong balls become eyes and stick-on fingernails are transformed into teeth.
When setting up for Chesterton's Wizard of Oz Festival each September, Wolak's perfection becomes evident. Dorothy's torso is removed from a carefully packed box. Her head is gently set upon her shoulders; her braids are delicately placed around her face. The final touch is having Toto ever so gently propped into the wicker basket on Dorothy's right arm.
The Scarecrow, originally played by Ray Bolger in the 1939 movie, wears Tim's Mom's terry cloth robe died greenish blue. Patches were sewn on his Dad's old baggy polyester pants. The timid character's shoes are Tim's old zip-up Beatle boots. A hillbilly hat was extended in height to duplicate the actual hat worn by Bolger. The likeness is breathtaking: from the goofy burlap facial expression, to his hay-stuffed shirt. A slight touch of gloss on his lower lip completes the realism. His eyes cause grown men to lean down and stare eyeball-to-eyeball into his hypnotic gaze.
The Tin Man, who came to life with the talents of Jack Haley, is far from an expressionless soul. You'll almost hear a heart beat when you get close to the cardboard-based, aluminum-sprayed sculpture complete with funnel hat and clutching his lumber ax. His intent stare, shining green eyes and bright red lips are mesmerizing.
During the Duneland Chamber of Commerce's Wizard of Oz weekend Festival from September 14-16, amidst Chesterton's Oz parades, look-a-like contests, munchkin autograph sessions and town crier competitions, a highlight of the Festival is "Picture Yourself in Oz." This is when youngsters and oldsters alike are immortalized as they pose with Wolak's work atop the hill of the Yellow Brick Road Museum and Gift shop on Route 49. The characters are propped - whimsically and proudly - in front of a 25-foot backdrop depicting the Land of Oz - from Dorothy's house to Munchkin Village; from the Haunted Forest to the Witch's Castle.
Dorothy, Toto, Tin Man, Cowardly Lion, Scarecrow, Winky Guard, Flying Monkey, Trumpeter, Wicked Witch of the West, Lollipop Kid and Coroner mix it up with Oz fans - who for the split motionless second it takes to pose for a polaroid, are frozen in time. Generations of families show up for the opportunity to be immortalized in one of Wolak's shots. "They're all jammed in their pretty tight" laughs the sculptor."But they love it."
The artist is a bit eccentric. "Tim just sees things in a different way," smiles his wife of eleven years. "His talent is magnificent. He's gained great prestige and the popularity of his work with Oz continually increases through Chesterton's Wizard of Oz Festival.
DESTINY & HEREDITY RESULT IN OZ ARTISTRY
Tim's mother had saved, and years later unearthed, his grammar school papers which were tucked away in a trunk. She discovered stick-like artwork on all of them. They were her son's early renditions of Dorothy, the Wicked Witch, the Tin Man and Scarecrow - complete with backgrounds of birds and trees. "I didn't realize how much of that MGM production was ingrained in my thoughts until those drawing surfaced, and frankly," Wolak admits, "I hardly recall doodling them."
As young Timmy turned into a teenage Tim, he would stay up all night long working on projects resulting in full size bodies sitting, squatting, kneeling, lying or flying around the house the next morning.
Wolak's father was an artist, engineer and craftsman. He painted with oils, indulged himself in wood working and created costumes for all his kids. It was not quite your normal - but very fun - household. "Dad designed a full-size flying saucer in our garage, but it was so big, we couldn't get it out of garage!" says Wolak, "...and, by the time he got through building us a go-cart it weighed 300 pounds and was so humongous we couldn't move it. Dad." he says with great admiration, "had active hands and was a big thinker. I try to mimmick him. Mimmick his talents. He was my big time inspiration."
"Mother would crochet," recalls Wolak. "Occasionally she'd look up, shake her head, grin and return to her afghan. She was - and is -totally supportive and amused by all I did." Nothing surprised her whether it be exploding balloons, plaster-splattered walls, eyeballs floating in the kitchen sink, or a fire when one failed motorized project burst into flames before her very eyes. "Mom really freaked out when she walked into the living room one morning to find a werewolf crouched by the couch, "Mom's cool," says Wolak. "....real cool."
WIZARD OF OZ IS A FAMILY AFFAIR
With the advent of video, Oz viewing was no longer limited to a one-time yearly televised event. "Our kids are totally mesmerized by it. We're all infatuated with Oz," says Tim. "I suppose it's the colors," he ventures. "They're so bright. So vivid. It just sucks you right in. On occasion, our daughter and son have watched Oz three and four times a day," adds Renee. "Literally non-stop."
Between Tim, Renee, ten-year old daughter Jessica and nine-year son Timmy, the guestimate as to how many times they've seen the movie is in the thousands. Not hundreds, but thousands. And amazingly, with each viewing the family sees something they hadn't seen before.
"We hear something new in the music, or see a movement or facial expression we hadn't noticed before," he says. Even though Wolak's statues will remain forever motionless, when you have the experience of standing amongst them, you can't help imagining the tin man moving a finger as he holds his ax, the lion waving his tail, the scarecrow winking at you.
"These guys are all older than you two," laughs Wolak as his children watch him painstakingly dismantle and re-assemble the statues each September for Chesterton, Indiana's Wizard of Oz Festival.
BUILD MUNCHKINS AND MUNCHKINS WILL COME
During Chesterton's Wizard of Oz Festival years ago, a tiny figure snuck under Wolak's fenced area to touch the Lollipop Kid statue. "I thought he was child. I stopped him 'Hey, hey, hey, please don't touch that!,' " When he turned to Wolak the artist saw his moustache and a large stogie in his mouth - both trademarks of actor Jerry Maren - the true Lollipop Kid who handed the gigantic candy on a stick to Judy Garland as she was greeted on her arrival to Munchkinland.
"Oh my god. It's you," yelled Wolak. "...You ARE the Lollipop Kid". Wolak frantically sought out a camera to snap a picture and get an autograph of his idol. A tear appeared in Maren's eye on his introduction to the trio of statues. He reminisced at how much they looked just like his "old buddies" from the Lollipop Guild on the MGM set more than six decades ago.
Wolak figured if his look-a-like art delighted one munchkin so much, that if he made more munchkins - he'd meet more munchkins. So he did.
Next project was Margaret Pellegrini - the Flower Pot Lady, then Meinhardt Raabe, the Coroner. When he introduced Raabe to his four foot tall duplicate, he removed the huge royal blue Coroner's hat and asked the munchkin to autograph the head of his likeness. "And," adds the Oz freak, "I was really thrilled when Meinhardt signed the death certificate held in the statue's hands."
This year marks the 20th celebration of the oldest and largest Festival of its kind. It takes place in from Friday, September 14 - Sunday, September 16.
To hang out with his Oz characters and to see Wolak's other Oz artwork, hop onto a free shuttle bus which takes a round trip every 20 minutes from the Chesterton's downtown Oz festivities two miles south to the hilltop on Highway 49 - home of the Yellow Brick Road Museum and Gift Shop.
Call Duneland Chamber of Commerce for Oz Events (219) 926-5513.
Log onto its web site at http://wpl.lib.in.us/chamber/
E-mail: dunelandchamber@niia.net