Written & Photographed By Theresa St. John
Basse Buller
Go out, go out, I beg you, and taste the beauty of the wild. Behold the miracle of the earth with all the wonder of a child.”
- Unknown
When I was a kid, my sisters and I explored the 18 acres of fields, forests, and ponds on the land where we grew up. We spent hours outdoors in nature, inventing places we called the ‘Mystery Forest’ and ‘Fairies Forest.’ There were spaces where you could talk, shout out, and laugh, and other sections where you had to be completely silent, or the forest witches would grab you and spirit you away, never to be seen again. We loved creating our fairy-tale world and couldn’t wait to share it with our small neighborhood friends. It sure was a hit!
I learned about Dambo’s Trolls from a post on Tupper Lake’s Wild Center’s website – named “Best Science Museum” in USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards in 2024. I’ve been there several times to cover stories and knew right away I’d need to go back to see this unique exhibition. It certainly called to the child in me; at 68, I sometimes forget about her.
Rosa
Sunfinger
Ibbi Pip
Thomas Dambo is widely regarded as the world’s leading recycled-art artist, known for his installations worldwide. From a very young age, his parents instilled in him the value of recycling. Thomas saw this as an opportunity to gather free, discarded materials for building, playing, and imagining. I saw six of his larger-than-life trolls one year in Boothbay Harbor, Maine, and was excited to see another collection here in New York State.
Dambo’s Save The Humans trolls on display at The Wild Center have become aware that the ‘little people’ – that would be you and me – are more disconnected from nature than ever before and that we’re actually doing more harm than good to the planet we call home.
This exhibit showcases two elements central to Dambo’s story. In 2006, he began making bright, colorful birdhouses to create street art in a positive way. They’ve become part of Thomas’s signature and represent harmony with nature. I was delighted to learn that the birdhouses would be part of the landscape I’d visit and that even one of his trolls at the center, Ibbi Pip, would use the primary-colored houses to communicate with humans around her. She’s optimistic and filled with hope for the earth. She’s also a great friend to all animals. Ibbi Pip knows we like to build birdhouses ourselves, hoping the winged creatures will come closer to us, rather than fly away in fear. I found myself grinning at the heavy sack of birdhouses slung over her shoulder, and at the sun-kissed cheeks she showed me as she towered over so many things in the wooded area where she stood.
Kamma Can
Ronja Redeye believes she should help the humans understand that actions have consequences, but that the ‘little people’ can do better. She has a way with words, and when this troll speaks, everyone seems to listen. She might be the smallest of the trolls, yet she has a mighty voice and truly wants to save the humans from themselves most of all. She holds up a flag with a symbol mark on it – a birdhouse. “Let’s teach the humans to be careful not to crush ants, just like we are careful not to step on them. We can also teach them to make room for the birds that live among us by making them homes in the trees.”
When I reach the place where Basse Buller is, I see he’s surrounded by youngsters crawling all over him. I’m not sure this is smart, since the art is outdoors, and I’m wondering if the kids can break him. I hear he’s a wild child at heart and expresses himself through symbols and shapes, using natural things like rocks, leaves, sticks, and anything else he can find. Whenever he starts his ‘mud-painting’ projects, he finds peace and calm inside and around him. I learned that he becomes funny, loud, and spreads his muddy paint everywhere in his attempts to lead humans on the right path. My kind of troll, for sure!
Sofus Lotus
The other element is the little red car that Dambo’s trolls always seem to find and play with. Rosa Sunfinger is an introverted troll who loves caring for plants and other green, leafy creatures with her pudgy little hands. I laughed when I caught up with her, tucked into a corner of the parking lot. Everything around her was lush and alive. What you and I might call weeds, she tends with love and gentle care. I could almost picture her looking up at me, encouraging me to tend to things I might otherwise forsake and forget during my busy mornings. I couldn’t help but stare as a young toddler raced up to Rosa, waving and blowing her a kiss. It was precious to see.
I open my map to see where all the trolls are. I read that Dambo personally visited The Wild Center and chose where they should be stationed on the 31-acre property. That impresses me. These larger-than-life trolls welcome me into the main building, peek out at me from a copse of trees, call to me from an open area in the woods, and encourage me to listen to the world around me.
They seem to have taken on a life of their own and have become a global hit. There are many organized groups out there that look for trolls and post photos of them on social media. At the moment, there are over 100 trolls worldwide, and I can’t believe I’ve only seen 12 of them! My next visit will be to Rhode Island, where I hear there are more. It’s fantastic how they’re all about teaching humans more about sustainability and stewardship of our planet in a creative, interactive way.
Ronja Redeye
I come across Kamma Can in a small clearing and burst into laughter. She is sitting kinda-sorta in the Indian style and wearing jewelry she’s made from things we throw away as trash. But she always sees potential in the world around her and loves to create things from, well, everything and anything. From what I hear, humans confuse her; what we consider useless garbage, she considers a treasure. I sit in a swing made from wagon wheels found on the property, and I find myself picturing Kamma Can swinging there herself after the park is closed and all the ‘little people’ have gone home for the day.