New Trolls to See in the Pacific Northwest
During the summer of 2023 six large trolls ranging from 15 to 20 feet tall, were constructed around the northwest to amplify the cultural connection of the Coast Salish tribe community and Scandinavian traditions.
There are also over one hundred twenty similar trolls that have been built worldwide over the past ten years. The trolls have been built by Danish environmental artist Thomas Dambo, using recycled pallet wood and other found organic and/or decorative material.
Five of the trolls are relatively close to Seattle with a sixth troll located in Portland. These creations were commissioned by Scan Design Foundation and initially seed funded by Paul Allen Family Foundation. Many public partners have since contributed to the ongoing troll building project. At each site it is stipulated that they be visited for free and remain in place for at least three years. The trolls are traditionally known to be fierce protectors of the natural world. The stated purpose of building them is to encourage protecting nature, exploration to find the Trolls, and simply interacting with the outdoor world. Dambo’s stories featuring these captivating wooden figures give them individual personalities and extra enjoyment to their viewers. Note that each location also features a bright cluster of birdhouses used as Dambo’s mission signature. Additional insight into the artist’s creative purpose can be obtained by viewing his Trash Talk videos.
By using durable recycled material, it is expected that some of the trolls may remain in place for up to fifteen years. Locally, troll locations include Bainbridge Island, Vashon Island, Lincoln Park in West Seattle, Issaquah, and Ballard next to the Nordic Museum. Directions to find each site can be found a by visiting NWtrolls.org or Trollmap.com.
The head, hands and feet of each troll are constructed in Dambo’s Denmark studio and then shipped to each site. By design the head is to be roughly 1/3 of the statue size. Onsite construction of each figure is usually accomplished in 7-10 days by a crew of roughly 10 seasoned workers plus many volunteers. Occasionally two nearby projects will be built simultaneously. Usually 50-60 people total are involved in construction including delivering recycled materials. Another roughly 40 people are involved with finding new sites, fund raising, media, and other various promotional activities. Trolls present a great photo opportunity and although we are allowed to touch them, we are asked not to climb on them.
For many years the troll under the Freemont bridge has been able to entertain the public by disbursing its Troll magic all alone. Now with the addition of his new companions, we are encouraged to go outside and enjoy many hours of troll magic ourselves as we visit the multiple new Troll sites. The internet may give us photos that give us a preliminary expectation of what we might see by visiting a site, but the real impact of the troll should be felt with an actual visit. Standing next to a giant troll, photographing and touching it is an experience we should all seek.
