Artist Thomas Dambo: 'Somebody has to fight for nature ... That's what my trolls do'

CHARLESTOWN – Jim Shockley, who walks regularly in Ninigret Park, was pleased to encounter a new park resident Friday morning, a giant troll made from recycled and repurposed 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 crowd was enthusiastic. When the troll's creator, Danish recycle artist Thomas Dambo, rolled up on his bicycle, the crowd cheered as if Dambo won the Tour de France.

Dambo is the world's leading recycle artist, according to the South County Tourism Council. He has built trolls, some 35 feet tall, in more than 20 countries to help spread the message of conservation.

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

Why trolls?

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

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

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

"I make 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 humanity and nature."

"Us humans are the most invasive species on the planet. We take up more and more and more space," Dambo said. "Somebody has to fight for nature, the plants and animals. That's what my trolls do."

Where can I find the troll?

The first troll at Ninigret Park is relatively easy to find. It's not far from the park entrance, near the Frosty Drew Observatory; it sits on the edge of Little Ninigret Pond. The second troll, Greta Granite, is 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 several trolls across Rhode Island, which would unveil a story to visitors as they work their way along the trail.

Among those turning out for Friday's event 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," Sophia Mongillo said. "When we found out he was coming here, they were so excited. We had to come down here as soon as we found out they were up and ready to be seen."

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

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Thumb's up for Rhode Island's first giant troll