Giant Trolls Are Coming to Ninigret Park this May — Get a Sneak Peek
Tourism officials hope a Danish artist's handiworks will spur the creation of a statewide public art trail.
Trolls are coming to South County.
Don’t be alarmed: They’re not the oversized, dim-witted ogres you may remember from fairy tales and The Hobbit.
Rather, these trolls are gentle giants, hulking creatures crafted from scrap wood and old wooden pallets who lure visitors with their magical presence and playful poses.
They’re the work of Danish artist Thomas Dambo, and two of them will soon call Ninigret Park home in what South County Tourism Council President Louise Bishop hopes is the beginning of a public art trail that stretches throughout the state.
“I’m absolutely thrilled that they’re coming,” she says.
And she’s excited to welcome more.
“We hope to have a few more trolls in the future to connect the state and form a Rhode Island ‘troll trail,’” she says.
Dambo made his first troll — Hector the Protector — on the Puerto Rican island of Culebra in 2014. Bishop read an article about him in 2019 and wondered if they could bring something similar to Rhode Island.
“I was enamored,” Bishop says. “I thought, ‘I wonder if that could actually happen where we are?’”
Danish artist Thomas Dambo crafts the giant trolls out of reclaimed wood, usually discarded pallets. Photo courtesy of Thomas Dambo.
Now that it’s actually happening, Bishop, who is passionate about public art, is confident the trolls will serve as a wonderful addition to the region’s natural beauty.
“When I first saw the Thomas Dambo Trolls at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, I knew they were just what South County needed as an attraction. I love that they’re eco-conscious and so unique and will be an additional economic driver for the state. They will put Rhode Island, not just South County, on the map,” she says.
One hundred of Dambo’s trolls are scattered throughout the globe in seventeen countries. One sits on the banks of a lake, lazily fishing; two lie on their backs, gazing up at the stars; one sits cross-legged, hugging the trunk of a tree; and some, like Hector the Protector, look out to the sea, holding a lantern to light the way for visitors.
Troll Hunt Joe The Guardian, Morton Arboretum, Chicago. Photo courtesy of Thomas Dambo.
Dambo visited Ninigret last spring to look at the area and come up with ideas for the trolls. (All of his trolls have back stories and lore associated with them.)
“My wife comes from New England, so I really love the area,” Dambo says. “I came last year for a site visit, I got to see so much of the beautiful area. I have a good idea for an installation with some really big stones. And if I have one obsession, it is that I like big stones.”
Bishop agrees that the Charlestown park makes a prime location with its 227 acres, open space and plenty of parking. She envisions a grand entryway, maybe decorated with greenery, with local shells and stones lining the paths to the statues. Pamphlets with QR codes would show the art trail and other points of interest along the way. Bishop has already reached out to Bob Billington, president and CEO of the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council, who’s also on board.
“Our whole goal is to start in South County and move into the state and up to Blackstone Valley,” she says. “We hope it will create an economic driver of people coming for tourism and overnights.”
Artist Thomas Dambo, above, will visit Rhode Island in May to scout out sites for his trolls. Photo courtesy of Thomas Dambo.
A $50,000 state placemaking grant, funded through the American Rescue Plan Act, is paving the way for the project. Dambo and his team will arrive in South County next month to start building the trolls and they are looking for help from local volunteers. If you’re interested in participating, please contact Joy Cordio at jcordio@southcountyri.com.
Bishop is hopeful the trolls will draw visitors to South County and beyond. After installing five Dambo trolls on its grounds, the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens saw a record-breaking number of visitors in 2021.
Though the trolls won’t officially be unveiled until May, from what she’s seen so far, Bishop is encouraged.
“Everyone is coming to the table on this and I’m thrilled.”
Rhode Island Monthly had the opportunity to get a sneak peek of Ninigret Park’s newest residents ahead of the grand unveiling next month — see them below:
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