Legendary Trolls: Troll Mama

“There’s Trolls in them thar hills!”  

The Trolls of which I speak are, of course, the much talked about sculptures brought to the Pacific Northwest (and beyond) through a unique collaboration between Danish recycle artist and activist Thomas Dambo, Scan Design Foundation, and several Coast Salish tribes—especially members from Muckleshoot and Snoqualmie.

Entitled “NWTrolls: Way of the Bird King,” this public art exhibition has firmly taken an imaginative hold here in the Puget Sound region. For those new to these gentle wooden giants here is an introduction from their official website:

“The publicly accessible sculptures are located around the Pacific Northwest where each whimsical troll sculpture is part of an underlying environmental story. The project celebrates the human experience of art by amplifying the connections of cultural heritage between Coast Salish tribal communities and Scandinavian traditions. Thanks to our funding partners and host site partners, there is no admission fee to visit any of the trolls.”

Critical among the various partners that brought this ambitious public art project to fruition is Seattle’s own Scan Design Foundation (SDF), whose mission is to “support Danish-American relations with a focus on environmental sustainability.”

Fidelma McGinn + Thomas Danbo

Courtesy of Scan Design Foundation

I first became aware of Scan Design Foundation (SDF) when I attended the opening reception for the exhibition of Boliglaboratorium: A Danish Housing Lab in November at the Center of Architecture and Design in Pioneer Square.

One of the speakers that evening was Fidelma McGinn, the current President of SDF. While talking about her background, Fidelma spoke of being the Project Director for the “NW Trolls” public art project—and, with tongue fully in cheek—referred to herself as the “Troll Mama.” I was immediately enchanted and wanted to learn more about Fidelma’s unique perspective on the NW Troll Project. She agreed to answer some questions:

DAVE:  When did you first become aware of Thomas Dambo and his work as an artist/activist? How was the process of bringing him and his team of artists to the Pacific Northwest?

FIDELMA: I was first introduced to Thomas and his Trolls in 2020, shortly after assuming my role at SDF. My predecessor had been in contact with Thomas in 2019, with the thought of having just one of his sculptures here.

I visited Thomas at his studio in Copenhagen in 2021. The more I got to know him, his work, and his passion for “turning trash into treasure,” I was convinced we needed to do something on a bigger scale. His ambition was to create 10 sculptures across Washington State. We invited him out to Washington three times for site visits and planning sessions with community partners. He was always gracious with his time and flexible and adaptable when we'd hit a roadblock or a speed bump.

Working in the US is very different to Denmark or other European countries—specifically as it relates to liability issues. The degree of concern about being sued if someone hurt themselves on one of his sculptures is so much higher here than in Europe. There were also concerns about vandalism—particularly the risk of people setting fire to the sculptures in open public parks.

I'll readily admit, we had to overcome many challenges: confirming budgets, permits for the host sites, design approvals, engineering designs for the anchors, logistics of hosting a 10-member team (travel, tools, housing, food, transport for 6 sites in 7 weeks)…but ultimately, we overcame all of the challenges and landed on six very cool and original sculptures in six unique locations.

DAVE: What is it about Dambo’s work that excites you? Why is his art important?

FIDELMA: I love the whimsical characters, the accessibility of his art, the stories that Thomas dreams up and the way he uses his art to engage audiences, across the generations, to think about getting out in nature. By reminding people of the beauty in their areas, they in turn will work harder to protect the environment. And I especially enjoy seeing how beloved these characters are by everyone who sees them. In all the communities, they are revered and protected.

It's just magical to see how the bonds of communities have formed around these sculptures. I also really admire how Thomas has created a positive work ethos for his team. They are all [such] skilled and talented crafts people. They balance work and play and seem to have genuine respect for each other. They were a joy to host and befriend.

Another crucial aspect of the project’s work was its artistic and cultural connections with several Coast Salish tribes. Fidelma continues:

Dambo and Muckleshoot artist John Halliday aka Coyote at construction of Bruun Idun

Courtesy of Scan Design Foundation

It was important for the project's success to engage in a meaningful way with the various tribes on whose ancestral land the sculptures would reside. We had positive engagement and input from several Coast Salish tribes, in particular the members of the cultural councils from Muckleshoot and Snoqualmie tribes. They appreciated Thomas' artistry and his reverence for the environment, and the parallels of their shared myths and stories.

DAVE: Do you know any special inside information about the Trolls, any Easter eggs that have been "hidden" from the public?

FIDELMA: Yes, I do but not sure if I should reveal them to you! It would spoil the intrigue!

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Fidelma would like to direct you to the interactive geocaching app. It will help you discover some of these intriguing details on your own and enhance your overall Troll experience.