Papier-Mache Animals are Coming!

Animal Art Sculptures at Assisted Living Center, Salisbury

LIFE-SIZED, LIFE-LIKE, PAPIER-MACHE ANIMALS -- THE ANIMALS ARE COMING!

Much to the delight of the residents at the Assisted Living Center-Salisbury and their guests, artist Linda York-Robbins will bring her life-sized papier-mache animals for this special one hour presentation on Wednesday, July 23 at 1 pm. As an art educator, the animals are part of how York-Robbins teaches art to her students, young and old. She names each one of her animals after a famous artist. "I do this so everyone will be more familiar with the many artists. They aren't just given any artist's name; they have a relationship as to why they have the specific name."

Linda York-Robbins explains that the inspiration to make these life-sized creatures grew out of necessity as a child. "I was a child in the '50s and there weren't many toys to occupy my time. If there was something that I envisioned, I sought out materials from my home and utilized the great resources of my wooded backyard in Wilmington, Massachusetts. This resourcefulness and creativity followed me through my career where I spent ten years as a department store visual display decorator. That is where I began to build things bigger-than-life."

The animals came into play about 20 years ago when Linda and her husband had their yearly backyard party at their Gloucester home. One year she decided to spend the entire year making papier-mache animals to set the theme of the summer's event. That summer she had 6' giraffe, a monkey, a baby elephant along other animals attending the party-all were life-sized!

"My papier-mache animals have a taken on a new, special purpose and meaning since I have been bringing them to assisted living facilities. As I go through the presentation and unveil each creature; I hear how the residents are pleasantly surprised to see a life-sized baby elephant, but it is when I pick it up and bring it up close to each resident, I see such a warm and welcoming smile from each resident as they reach their hands out to touch and pat it. Then they usually respond with how real the eyes look. What I see in their eyes is as if they are connecting with the creatures that we share this earth with, and they are receiving all the joy that I put into creating them."

Admission if free and open to the public. Guest seating is limited, so please call Renee 978-463-9809 if you are interested in attending. For more information about the Assisted Living Center-Salisbury, www.assistedlivingcenter.org or 978 463-9809.