Big Rusty 

We visited Thomas Dambo's troll Big Rusty at the former Creek Turn Ceramic Supply factory in Haidenport, NJ. Big Rusty is one of 120 trolls across 17 countries by Dambo. 10 giant trolls were built in the United States in 2023 as part of a cross-country trail that Dambo calls the “Way of the Bird King”. Additionally, a group of trolls is also traveling the US, temporarily set up in different arboretums, botanical gardens, and parks. Big Rusty’s body is made out of found materials from an old abandoned structure that still stands by her side today—more information about Big Rusty and Thomas Dambo.

Dambo's trolls are a form of science communication - his art as a form of environmental communication, aiming to change perceptions of waste and encourage stewardship of the natural world. Through his large-scale troll sculptures, constructed from recycled materials and placed in natural landscapes, Dambo communicates the message "Waste No More".