Way of the Bird King

2023

During the summer of 2023 I drove across the USA to build and install ten giant trolls. During the 100 days of travel and work, more than a thousand volunteers pitched in to make this project come to life.

The project was realised with great help from the following partners and clients: Scan Design Foundation, City of Seattle, The City of Issaquah, National Nordic Museum, City of Hainesport, Northland Outfitters, Gold Camp District Impact Group, Nordic Northwest, Bainbridge Island, Vashon Island Chamber of Commerce

‍

‍

BIG RUSTY

Hainesport, New Jersey, USA

Big Rusty is made from 100 square meters of rusty metal roof, a plywood attic, different electrical equipment, a concrete wall, and wood. It was the first troll of Way of the Bird King, built in June 2023.

For every piece of trash, she eats
she grows so big and thick
So careful not to feed the beast
one day, she might grow sick

‍

Lost Finn

South Londonderry, Vermont, USA

If you’ve gone confused and grey
They will help you on your way
Follow the birdhouses where the color shines so bright
Up the mountain down the valley dark stormy night

‍

Benny the Beard Fisher

Germfask, Michigan, USA

Benny’s beard can reach across the pond and through the river
Long and strong the beard will wrap around you like a twister
Trolls can grow a beard both as a baby, miss, and mister
But any troll will envy that on Benny the Beard Fisher

‍

Rita the Rock Planter

Victor, Colorado, USA

A hundred suns is how long a nap takes for the trolls
When Rita woke again, her mountainside was full of holes
The humans must have dug them in their search for shiny rock
But someone could fall in, so Rita went to tidy up

‍

Ole-Bolle

Portland, Oregon, USA

There's something in the air, that something makes my belly rumble.
Something smells so strong, it hits me almost makes me stumble.
Could it be the little people cooking something smelly.
In the big red cookie jar, so I can put them in my belly

‍

Pia the Peacekeeper

Bainbridge Island, Washington, USA

Pretty pretty please, let’s keep the peace beneath the trees
Hold you in my hand I will remind you with a squeeze
Quiet little people cause your criers make me tired
Pia likes to play with people, people they keep quiet

‍

Bruun Idun

Lincoln Park, Seattle, USA

In the night, there was a storm, there at the beach where she was born
And Idun felt a feeling wrong, and so she walked there in the dawn
And in a flute, the magic horn, a tune so passionate and strong
She played for them an orca song to ask them where they all had gone

Brunn Idun stands on the shoreline playing her flute to the Orca’s to ask them why they have all left the Pugeut Sound. Her flute was made by artist, John Halliday Aka Coyote from the Muckleshoot Tribe. On August 25th, the Mayor of Seattle, Bruce A. Harrel, declared it "Brunn Idun Day". This special recognition celebrates Bruun Idun's and the Trolls' contributions to our collective stewardship environmental management, water protection, repairing habitat restoration, preservation and conservation. Every August 25th is Bruun Idun Day.

‍

Jakob Two Trees

Issaquah, Washington, USA

A thousand circle suns, not old
Time will stretch and loop and fold
So stop, breathe out, breathe in, behold
The trees have sung a story told

‍

Frankie Feetsplinter

Ballard, Washington, USA

Frankie don’t like slimy fish, cause fishes are all so dumb
And Frankie don’t like little humans, humans are so dumb
Frankie don’t even like trolls, cause trolls are also dumb
But Frankie’s mouth’s the only one that says the word of dumb

‍

Oscar the Bird King

Vashon Island, Washington, USA

He swam here from the island, where his momma once had birthed him
He walked across the mountains till his giant feet was hurting
He spoke a crow and little girl, the Orca he heard him sing
He used to be a little troll, now Oscar is The Bird King

‍