Are you looking for a fun family activity in the Seattle area? The search for five giant trolls awaits you, crafted by renowned artist Thomas Dambo.
Dambo’s enchanting artistic creations are now ready for exploration.
The project, featuring majestic wooden trolls, commenced on Bainbridge Island, the first of five colossal trolls Dambo has created for the greater Seattle area. The remaining trolls can be found in West Seattle, Issaquah, Vashon Island, and Ballard.
These public art installations encourage outdoor discovery and engagement, and they’re all free to visit. However, finding them is part of the fun.
If you’re eager to uncover the location of the Bainbridge troll, known as Pia the Peacekeeper, you’re in for a treat. As Dambo’s 121st troll, she is a landmark piece in the Seattle art scene.
For those ready to embark on this adventurous hunt, visit Trollmap.com. This site provides an approximate map of each troll’s location.
Hints about Pia’s whereabouts suggest she resides in a park about a mile from the Bainbridge ferry terminal, marked by a tall pole adorned with colorful birdhouses welcoming visitors.
Friends of the Bainbridge Troll have also provided clues on their website to assist eager visitors. Nwtrolls.org features a customized adventure app designed for each troll site, creating an engaging online scavenger hunt experience.
Fidelma McGinn, president of the coinciding Scan Design Foundation, expressed how this art project fosters interaction across generations.
“It’s a perfect way to engage all generations,” stated McGinn. “From grandparents to toddlers, everybody has a different reaction. But the ‘wow’ factor is independent of age.”
The giant troll project, known as “Northwest Trolls: Way of the Bird King,” is the result of years of planning.
Commissioned by the Scan Design Foundation, a cultural initiative focused on enhancing American-Danish relations, this project has seen Dambo customizing locations since scouting began in 2021 with his wife.
Dambo builds the trolls’ facial features in his Copenhagen studio before constructing their bodies on-site. These towering sculptures stand between 15 and 20 feet tall and are made entirely from recycled materials, with a mission to inspire a deeper appreciation for nature, while showing how even discarded materials can serve a purpose.
But why trolls?
McGinn elaborated, calling Dambo “the Pied Piper of trolls.” The stories behind these figures are rooted in Nordic traditions.
“He grew up with those stories and fairy tales as a kid,” said McGinn, explaining how these tales often suggested trolls could come for misbehaving children.
Pia the Peacekeeper is designed to invite interaction; she sits on the ground with her hands outstretched, ready to play with visitors akin to human puppets.
The joy of discovery is open to all—families, individuals, and even those with mobility challenges.
Onlookers have been captivated, as evidenced by a bicyclist who paused to snap a photo and families milling around, embracing the experience.
Dambo’s creations will remain at each site for a minimum of three years, and potentially up to 15 years, as discussions about their future are still in the works.
Dambo hopes that the experience of troll-hunting brings joy to Seattleites.
“I hope they smile,” said Dambo. “I hope they’ll get some of the whimsy, fairy tale in their life.”
As part of this project, Dambo has taken a cross-country tour since June 2023, traveling with his wife and their twin 1-year-old boys in an RV dubbed the Trollercoaster.
This journey, consisting of 10 stops and installations, has been documented on his YouTube channel.
But there are more trolls nearby to take note of; for example, Portland hosts Ole-Bolle, Dambo’s first PNW troll located behind Nordia House, crafted from reclaimed wood and pallets.
Ole-Bolle is depicted curiously peeking inside a cozy red cabin, engaging viewers with its playful essence.
Dambo’s crew includes 10 members from Denmark, with volunteers contributing their time and talents along the tour.
Currently, Dambo is borrowing housing and driving a borrowed minivan as they work across the region.
Among the dedicated volunteers is an artist from Arizona and a museum exhibit designer from San Francisco, making the project a collective journey of passion and creativity.
Dawn Janow, who sits on the Bainbridge Island Park Board of Commissioners, describes the process of building the troll as a “stone soup project,” with various contributions—such as donated pallets and apple orchard clippings used for hair—reinforcing community spirit.
Janow’s enthusiasm radiates as she shares how one meeting prompted a lively discussion about the project’s purpose.
“Why are we doing this?” she recalls someone asking. The answer was simple yet profound: “How about… joy!”
Dambo’s venture into the world of trolls began nine years ago with a temporary installation at a music festival in Denmark.
Despite challenges, including a troll being swept away by Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, he embraces the outdoor display of his art.
“It’s like your food,” Dambo asserts, gesturing to the crew member who had provided lunch. “Doesn’t last forever, but it makes people happy.”
Before you set off on your troll-hunting adventure, remember to check the hints and get ready for an experience filled with whimsy and joy.
image source from：https://www.seattleschild.com/five-giant-trolls-coming-to-seattle-this-summer/
