Living in forests, caves, or rocky areas, trolls are closely tied to the natural world. They might be portrayed as oafish and dumb or cunning and malevolent, but rarely are they kind and helpful to humans. The mountain troll in Harry Potter, for example. (And it's not difficult to understand how the trolls who populate the dark recesses of the internet got their name.)
But Breckenridge, Colorado is home to a different kind of troll.
Isak Heartstone is a wooden sculpture made by the Danish artist Thomas Dambo. Standing 15 feet tall, Isak is constructed of reclaimed and recycled materials. With one hand around a nearby tree trunk, he gazes down at the steady stream of visitors who follow the short Trollstigen Trail to come and say hello.
Dambo refers to himself as a Recycle Artist and Activist. A self-proclaimed dumpster diver, he has built hundreds of installations across 20 countries/5 continents and doesn't appear to be slowing down any time soon. His mission? "Showing the world that beautiful things can be made of trash."
I didn't know all of this when I visited Isak. And I didn't know he has more than one hundred brothers and sisters around the world. I knew only that this big wooden fella had a kind face, a sweet vibe, and made everyone who saw him smile.
The end of July is upon us. See you in August!
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