Happy Friday, GPODers!
During the worst of the winter months, many of us retreat to the warmth and comfort of our indoor spaces. However, if you’re lucky enough to reside in a milder climate or find an attraction or activity that is worth bundling up for, the winter months are still a wonderful time to immerse yourself in the outdoors. Today, Beth Tucker from Waxhaw, North Carolina (Beth’s Early Summer Garden, Early Spring in Beth’s North Carolina Garden, Irises and More in Beth’s Garden, etc.), is sharing an incredible opportunity to get outside, support an excellent arboretum, and do a little reflecting on our environment. She recently made a trip to The North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville, North Carolina, and experienced the traveling sculpture installation called Trolls: A Field Study by Danish artist Thomas Dambo. There are 12 “Baby Troll” sculptures in this exhibition that range from 7 to 9 feet tall and are crafted from completely reclaimed and salvaged materials like fallen branches, wooden pallets, and twigs. Their stop in North Carolina is the first stop in North America, where they are “embarking on a curious journey to learn about humankind.” The trolls will be at The North Carolina Arboretum until February 17 and will move on to South Coast Botanic Garden in Palos Verdes Estates, California, in March.
This “on the road” isn’t about gardens so much as the magical creatures that can be found there. Thomas Dambo creates these marvelous trolls out of reclaimed lumber—these are from his Trolls: A Field Study installation at the North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville. We had such a wonderful time “troll hunting”; there were many children and dogs participating, wandering along the paths searching for the elusive trolls!
First up is the leader of the pack, a tenacious troll named Taks. In the lore of this exhibition, Taks was the first baby troll to wander out into the human world and, dumbfounded by what he saw, returned to his 11 siblings to bring them with him on this field study.
Next up is the artist of the bunch, named Wilde. A section of broken branch serves as a troll-sized writing utensil that is used to depict a human in a state most often seen by these trolls: behind a cellphone camera to take a photo. What a poignant yet humorous statement on how we interact with art!
And here’s a better view of Wilde, allowing you to see the incredibly expressive faces Dambo is able to create with reclaimed wood.
Many of Dambo’s trolls have a mischievous nature to them, and the trolls in this series are no different. It is not visible in this photo, but Bignut is attentively holding a string to a human-sized trap.
Boge is another curious troll trying to get a closer look. Many of Dambo’s sculptures encourage interaction, offering long limbs to climb onto or an outstretched hand to get into. This is even more prominent in the Field Study exhibition as the baby trolls explore and observe humankind. Boge’s clasping hands invite visitors to climb inside and offer themselves up for the troll’s amusement.
Lastly, a simple troll named Valle reminds us all to slow down. Surrounded by the stripped-back winter landscape, Valle shows us that rest can be just as important as action.
Thank you so much for sharing this amazing art installation with us, Beth! I was in awe of Dambo’s sculptures at Coastal Maine Botanical Garden, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed that this exhibition makes it to a botanical garden or arboretum closer to me.
Have you visited any public gardens this winter? From holiday light displays to art exhibitions and conservatory plant collections, there is often still plenty to see and do that help support these vital institutions when visitation slows. Consider telling us about your favorite public garden to visit in the comments, or consider sharing photos of your last trip with the blog. Follow the NEW directions below to submit your photos to Garden Photo of the Day!
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Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit!
To submit, fill out the Garden Photo of the Day Submission Form.
You can also send 5–10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden.
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