A strangely welcoming wooden figure stood outside of Seattle’s Nordic Museum on a dark, rainy day last year. It was Frankie Feetspinter, created by Danish Artist Thomas Dambo. The sculpture appeared to be fashioned from scrap lumber and indeed, it was. It still stands there today. Dambo’s intention is to showcase art made of recycled materials, enhanced by vegetative debris found in nature. Even though it was a 20-foot high “troll,” his warm and friendly eyes beckoned you to come closer. Unlike other trolls, this one projected friendliness and positive vibes.
Then I discovered that Dambo has created 125 trolls from recycled materials in the US and 17 other countries, including his native Denmark. Most, it seems, are placed in natural settings where a short walk on a wooded pathway is necessary to see them.
The first time I met “Frankie,” my left knee was acting up, and replacement surgery was imminent. This limited my walking to short level hikes. Thomas Dambo and his lovable trolls gave my wife and I a doable quest: to see all five of his “Way of the Bird King” Washington state trolls. Fortunately, they are all located relatively close to Seattle.
Frankie Feetsplinter was the first, and I have since revisited him. Later came Oskar the Bird King (who weighs 10,000 pounds), Jacob Two Trees, Bruun Idun, and finally, Pia the Peacekeeper. These enchanting trolls can be found at Vashon Island, Issaquah, West Seattle, and Bainbridge Island respectively. All of them differ, but all have similarities too – especially in their style and construction materials. The details are captivating as well. Some wear jewelry (wooden of course), all have interesting hair styles made from sticks and vegetation, and one even plays a musical instrument. All are well-worth visiting, bringing joy and hope in a troubled world.
Thomas Dambo reveals the art of the possible through his trolls. He appeals to our better angels. As Vashon Island Chamber of Commerce post stated that “Dambo’s trolls inspire people to get out into nature, explore, have adventures, and protect our natural spaces.” Thomas Dambo, recycle artist said “In nature, there is no landfill. Nature is circular, everything has a meaning and everything is recycled.”
Every troll attracts visitors and tourists. They make for pleasant walks and fantastic photo ops. People who see them get happy. They smile, they laugh, and they marvel at Dambo’s playful, cheerful whimsical trolls. Dambo said his trolls “are here to teach that trash can have value. Pretty much everyone wants to be a part of this positive change.”
Go see them. They are a welcome departure from today’s (and probably tomorrow’s) news. Exercise your legs, your photographic skills, and your smile muscles. Experience joy!
To visit and learn more about Thomas Dambo’s amazing trolls, start here: https://www.nwtrolls.org/
