How would you make a papier mache statue of liberty?

You need a base to work with. I probably would start with a square piece of plywood with a upright vertical post attached to it. Then I would attach another piece of wood - probably a 2x2 for the arm and torch support.

Then I would use somewhat soft wire - not florist - heavier than that but not as heavy as a clothes hanger - and get a big roll. I would wire around and around the whole thing - not tightly to form a base for the paper mache to cling to. Once you have your base constructed kind of a semi form of the statue of Liberty - then I would put a coat of mache on it.

Then probably a second coat - shaping this coat more then the first one. Then the third thinner coat I would shape things very detailed. Another way to do the coatings would be with cotton cloth dipped in straight Sta-puf clothing Starch - in comes in a liquid form and you can pour into a large bowl and soak the fabric and then drape it over your form.

Again you will want a couple layers of it and the wire around ... more.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.