GIANT TROLLS (no, not of the Internet variety)

May 6, 2021 9:04 PM

This summer, five ginormous monsters are taking up residence at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. "Dambo admits that the stories and concepts he comes up with might be lost on visitors. "It doesn't really matter for me," he says. What matters is that his trolls draw people into nature "to have a good experience there." He also hopes they see that garbage can be turned into something big and beautiful. "I like to think that my art can help change people's perspective from trash being something that has no value to something that has a big value," he says."

I felt sad reading the original story of Isak Hearthstone, but I'm glad he could rebuild the trolls that have been lost/injured/had something happen to them.

posted by jenfullmoon (21 comments total)

These trolls are different from what I expected. Quite sereneand beautiful. Thanksfor posting this , jenfullmoon.
posted by Zumbador at 12:57 AM on May 7, 2021 [4 favorites]

I would never have seen this if you hadn't posted this. Thanks, it's cool!
posted by Too-Ticky at 1:03 AM on May 7, 2021 [2 favorites]

These are such lovely photos! I really like the artist’s imaginings of what trolls would be like. They look gentle and kind. I particularly like how they are situated in the landscape.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 1:47 AM on May 7, 2021 [1 favorite]

I remember seeing an article on this artist maybe last year? It showed his giant trolls in a forest somewhere in Europe. I can't imagine how cool it would be to be walking along and suddenly come upon one by chance! (Well, cool after what would undoubtedly be an initial shock and terror.)
posted by pangolin party at 3:06 AM on May 7, 2021 [2 favorites]

These are gorgeous. I had already clicked over to the troll map to see where I might be able to visit a troll before clicking back and reading about poor Isak Hearthstone! I'm glad he was rebuilt, but still!

The photos are great, and so is the article. I am a sucker for public art projects in general, and these trolls are a particularly good one. Great start to my Friday morning, thanks for posting!
posted by the primroses were over at 4:11 AM on May 7, 2021 [2 favorites]

Dambo’s Instagram is a delight.
posted by oulipian at 4:47 AM on May 7, 2021 [1 favorite]

jenfullmoon, thank you so much for posting this! I have wanted to see one of these trolls since I read about them on MeFi last year, and now there's finally one (five!) within driving distance of my house. We are definitely taking a road trip there this summer. I'm excited!
posted by widdershins at 5:29 AM on May 7, 2021 [1 favorite]

These gardens are so popular that I haven't been for the last few years because I dislike crowds. You have to buy tickets for set times to go now, you can't just show up. These trolls though, it would be worth the hassle to see them in person. "Sweet" is the word I thought of when I saw the pictures.
posted by JanetLand at 5:35 AM on May 7, 2021 [1 favorite]

This made me so happy. I’d never heard of these trolls before. I shared this link with everybody. Thanks for brightening my morning.
posted by eirias at 6:11 AM on May 7, 2021

These are fantastic. However, I have zero doubt that if they were in the woods around me, they'd be covered in graffiti. So great that these are untouched and intact!
posted by dobbs at 6:14 AM on May 7, 2021

This is what metafilter is for.
posted by bonehead at 6:26 AM on May 7, 2021 [4 favorites]

This is really neat. I want to see the construction. I assume, given some of the locations, it uses big ladders carried in on foot?
posted by eotvos at 6:32 AM on May 7, 2021

Dambo did a batch of trolls for the Morton Arboretum not long ago, too and they were great.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 7:27 AM on May 7, 2021 [7 favorites]

These are absolutely fantastic. I would love art like this to become more commonplace: integrate large structures into the landscape, and make them beautiful and whimsical both. Marvelous.
posted by Ipsifendus at 7:41 AM on May 7, 2021

The Morton trolls were a complete blast! I loved the fact that people could climb and interact with them. My kids had a lot of fun with that.

The coolest troll was the one (Joe the Guardian) that Dambo placed at the outside edge of the Arboretum that overlooks Interstate 88 as it leaves Chicago. His picture doesn't quite show the real placement.

Seeing him up on that hill as I drove by always made me smile.
posted by JoeZydeco at 8:14 AM on May 7, 2021 [1 favorite]

His picture doesn't quite show the real placement.

He was literally staring down the Illinois Tollway administration building.
posted by hwyengr at 8:21 AM on May 7, 2021 [1 favorite]

Dambo didn't know. I would have used the rock-throwing one.
posted by JoeZydeco at 8:25 AM on May 7, 2021 [2 favorites]

Thank you for posting! I would love to see these in person. And his birdhouse project is delightful, and gives me ideas for my (someday) yard.
posted by winesong at 9:02 AM on May 7, 2021

I would love to see these.
posted by jacquilynne at 11:49 AM on May 7, 2021

This is terrific.
posted by doctornemo at 7:51 PM on May 7, 2021

I want one for my yard.
posted by mermayd at 6:27 AM on May 8, 2021