‘Someone has to fight for nature… That’s what my trolls do’

CHARLESTOWN – Jim Shockley, who regularly walks in Ninigret Park, was happy to encounter a new park resident Friday morning, a giant troll made from recycled and reclaimed wood.

“It’s beautiful,” Shockley said.

Shockley was talking about both the troll, named Erik Rock, and the crowd of about 100 people, children and adults, who came out for the troll’s official unveiling.

“I like how all the people here seem to be smiling,” Shockley said.

More: Giant trolls from Denmark will soon tower over Ninigret Park. Can they attract tourists?

Yes, the audience was enthusiastic. When the troll’s creator, Danish recycling artist Thomas Dambo, got on his bike, the crowd cheered as if Dambo had won the Tour de France.

According to the South County Tourism Council, Dambo is the world’s leading recycling artist. He has built trolls of up to 10 meters in length in more than twenty countries to help spread the message of conservation.

Louise Bishop, CEO of the South County Tourism Council, led the effort to bring Dambo’s work to Rhode Island because of his message and her belief that the trolls will help people get out into nature, as well as support tourism.

Why troll?

Dambo has spent the past few weeks in Rhode Island with his wife Alexa Piekarski and their twin boys. While he finished off Erik Rock, Dambo is still working on Erik’s partner, Greta Granite, also in Ninigret Park, and chose to keep her location a secret.

About 175 volunteers helped Dambo with the construction. So many people came forward to offer their help that Bishop had to turn people away.

Bishop sees Erik Rock as the start of a Rhode Island troll trail that will extend beyond South County and through Blackstone Valley. Dambo wants to build more trolls here. He has scouted locations on Block Island and East Providence, but declined Friday to discuss other potential locations.

“I create trolls because in my stories trolls are the unspoken voice of the animals and the plants,” Dambo said. “My stories are about the conflict between humans and nature.”

“We humans are the most invasive species on Earth. We are taking up more and more space,” Dambo said. “Someone has to fight for nature, plants and animals. That’s what my trolls do.”

Where can I find the troll?

The first troll in Ninigret Park is relatively easy to find. It’s not far from the park entrance, near the Frosty Drew Observatory; it is located on the edge of Little Ninigret Pond. The second troll, Greta Granite, is located deeper in the park. Dambo says he will post clues to her location in the park and also on his website ThomasDambo.com.

He envisions a trail of various trolls across Rhode Island, which would reveal a story for visitors as they make their way along the path.

Among those present Friday were Sophia Mongillo and her two young daughters, Juniper and Hazel. Mongillo grew up in Charlestown but now lives in Connecticut.

“We absolutely love Thomas Dambo and everything he does,” said Sophia Mongillo. “When we found out he was coming here, they were so excited. We had to come here as soon as we found out they were ready to be seen.”

When the girls were asked if they liked the troll, Hazel simply pointed her thumb at the sky.

This article originally appeared in The Providence Journal: Thumbs up for Rhode Island’s first giant troll