IMAGE GALLERY: A Toy Story in Papier-Mache

Papier-mâché sculptures of Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head, Rex, Jessie the Cowgirl, Bo Peep and 11 other favorite characters from Disney Pixar’s hit Toy Story series greet shoppers in the Kohl’s Wing of the

The life-size sculptures, created by seventh- and eighth-graders at, were publicly unveiled last Tuesday and will be on display through April 30. Underneath the papier-mâché and acrylic paint on each finely detailed model is PVC pipe, cardboard and chicken wire.

“We are thrilled to host the ‘Characters from Toy Story’ art exhibit at Liberty Tree Mall,” said Sherri D’Alessandro, the director of marketing for the mall. “The display allows students the opportunity to showcase their hard work while invoking the imaginations of adults and children alike.”

The students who created these sculptures are enrolled in an advanced art program at the middle school. Each of the 18 sculptures, and in most cases the work of two or three students, was built over a two-month period.

“Art education is essential to children becoming well-rounded adults,” said Jeff Surette, art teacher at Holten-Richmond. “Thanks to Liberty Tree Mall for hosting this exhibit, the community is able to experience these fantastic creations that our students worked so hard to create.”

The names of each sculpture and its artists are listed below:

• Alien 1 — Christian Brown, Evan Kasle and Famosal Damaa.
• Alien 2 — Amelia Soper and Hannah Walako.
• Bo Peep — Erin Quigley, Maddie Mucci and Kailee LeBlanc.
• Bullseye — Lindsey Elliot, Eileen Vandewalle, Sammie Callahan and Madeline Bingham.
• Buzz Lightyear — Payton Johnson, Kaitlyn Nash and Bethany Geary.
• Chicken-Man Al — Jenna Romano, Janelle Tobin and Alicia Deleidi.
• Emperor Zurgh — Kevin Howard and Logan Dunn.
• Hamm — Dan Geary, Emily McPherson and Kaitlyn Condon.
• Jessie — Victoria Ambrifi and Taryn Wendell.
• Lots-O-Huggin’ Bear — Conor Forden.
• Mr. Potato Head — Kate Walako, Leah Sabina and Emily Dollard.
• Mrs. Potato Head — Paige Strauch, Miranda Furnari and Chrissy Griffin.
• Prospector Pete — Will Henry, Aiden Barrett and Mikayla McCarthy.
• Rex — Brian McKinnon, Shannon Pohle, Meaghan McKenna and Mike DiSciullo.
• Slinky — Julia Mini, Catherine Trott and Erica DeDonato.
• Spider-Baby — Jaclyn Pszenny, Sophia Cawlina and Catalina Dominick.
• Weezie — Will Norris and Brendan Powers.
• Woody — Amanda Backe and Christina Liotti.