The California Nature Art Museum (formerly the Wildling Museum) is commissioning Thomas Dambo, a world-renowned Danish artist who specializes in creating large, whimsical trolls made from recycled materials, to build his first permanent troll in California.
Dambo who is known for his imaginative, colossal sculptures, breathes new life into discarded resources, showcasing the potential hidden within the world’s trash cans.
The recycling artist chose to install his first permanent troll in Solvang at the California Nature Art Museum. With the community’s help, the troll, whose name, back-story, and design will be kept a mystery until “she” (the only clue that has been revealed to date) will be constructed and installed in January.
Dambo has built more than 100 of these large trolls, each with its own story and name, in 16 countries, with 52 in the U.S. The Solvang troll will be unique in that it will be the only one to be housed indoors.
With the contract now finalized with the artist, the museum is working to complete the fundraising to build the troll, which is expected to become a major visitor attraction in the Santa Ynez Valley.
The museum has raised $120,000 to date and needs $180,000 to complete the campaign. They are also looking for in-kind donations to support the project, such as wooden pallets and used wine barrels. Given the large size of the troll, dozens of pallets and barrels will be required.
As Dambo always involves the local community during installation, the museum will be announcing volunteer opportunities.
“We are so excited and proud to be working with Thomas Dambo, and to soon be hosting his first permanent troll in California as well as his only indoor troll,” said Stacey Stacey Otte-Demangate, executive director for California Nature Art Museum.
“She [the troll] will welcome visitors to Solvang and the valley from our tower 24/7 and connect us to the unique Danish culture and heritage here in Solvang,” Otte-Demangate said. “Most importantly, she will be made out of recycled pallets and wine barrels, which speaks to our mission, and our love for the environment and desire to operate as a green business.”
The troll will be installed in the museum’s highly visible tower, which faces a well-traveled entry point to Solvang.
“My mission is ‘Waste No More,’” Dambo said. “Our world is drowning in trash while we are running out of natural resources. I spend my life showing the world that beautiful things can be made from trash, and I give new life to discarded materials by turning them into large-scale artworks.
“These projects come to life using hundreds of tons of recycled materials, working in and with local communities – who are the co-creators of the art that I make – because the mission I follow needs the involvement of everybody. My aim is to build 1,000 trolls using recycled materials all over the world.”
Dambo crafts a unique story for each troll about the importance of exploring and protecting nature. The artist shares stories on social media of his unique trolls from all over the world.
Dambo also has a following of people who enjoy traveling to find his trolls, most of which live outdoors in nature, as an enticement to get people outside. He even has a “troll map” to assist searchers in locating his pieces.
The installation is sponsored by the Schiele Family Foundation, Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, Visit the Santa Ynez Valley, Allan Hancock College, Margaret Weiss and Sterling Collett, and Belinda and Robert Hart.
Learn more about the troll project at https://www.calnatureartmuseum.org/news/thomas-dambo-at-calnam, which includes a link for online donations.
Donations of $500 and above will be listed on a sponsor board in the museum lobby, near the entrance to the Michele Kuelbs Tower where the troll will live.