March 15, 2024 is a joyful day in the history of Pease Park. It is the day our Troll, Malin, and her Fountain were officially “inaugurated” by artist Thomas Dambo with an enthusiastic crowd of supporters and friends in her wooded spot just north of Kingsbury Commons.
Dambo and his crew (Bardur, Ema, Texas Matt, Niels, Williams, Viktor) built Malin from mostly recycled materials over the course of the previous month. The spring weather cooperated and park visitors, passing by with their dogs or strollers, did double-takes and stopped to snap photos of her progress.
Her 18-foot “skeleton” was made from new, locally-milled Eastern Red Cedar, and her head and feet were made in Denmark from recycled wood. But the rest of her-- the cladding that makes up her “skin” and “fur”-- was made from reclaimed wood from a retired water tank from the J.J. Pickle Research Campus at The University of Texas at Austin. (Malin is a Longhorn at heart, after all.) Her beautiful hair is made of Ashe juniper roots salvaged by Greg Wooldridge. Her necklace-- worthy of a fashion icon of her stature-- is made from found and donated items (antlers, stones, a beautiful piece of blue glass) from Lynne Dobson, Greg Wooldridge, and devoted trollistas from all across town.
Malin’s presence has without a doubt brought more people to enjoy Pease Park. In March 2024, we had 40,000 visitors compared to 29,000 in the previous March. April and May had 88,000 visitors, compared to 74,000 the previous spring. Overall, weekend visitation this spring was almost double the previous year thanks to Malin.
Her popularity helps us show off the level of stewardship excellence that Conservancy staff provide, and the extra trash pickups and bathroom cleanings were generously underwritten by the Tejemos Foundation.
Children and adults alike are drawn to Malin’s calming presence. She now plays a starring role in our Peasecology School field trips in partnership with AISD serving 1,300 students, majority of them Title 1, annually. Many visitors leave her offerings of water, leaves, and stones in her bowl-- gifts she may share with the other creatures around her when no one is watching.
Carolina wrens have nested inside her nostrils and ears. She is a guardian of the Park and a friend to everyone who sees her. She brings more magic to an already magical green space.
Since the fall of 2023, our Troll has been celebrated in (at least) 41 news features in publications from the Statesman to Texas Monthly to the Daily Texan, among others; discussed on podcasts as well as by joggers along the Trail; “liked” by almost 15,000 people just on PPC’s social media posts. She event spawned a tribute troll at BEPI park, right down the street.
What a gift for the City of Austin and Pease Park! We are so grateful to all who donated to bring Malin to Pease Park, especially Lynne Dobson and Greg Wooldridge and the Tejemos Foundation. Malin is an expression of joy in nature, of opportunity for unexpected delight, and of community connection through art.
Thank you for being a part of her story and for your support of Pease Park Conservancy’s programs. Learn more about Malin’s Fountain by Thomas Dambo and Thomas Dambo’s other sculptures at thomasdambo.com.
Thank you to our generous donors
Tejemos Foundation
Lynne Dobson and Greg Wooldridge
H-E-B
William Knox Holt Foundation
Gabrielle & Rudolf Bekink
Dalya Sachs & Ben Bentzin
Ginger & Mike Blair
Katy & Matt Culmo
Marianne DeLeon
Allison Edwards
Barbara Glenn
Diana & Sean Greenberg
Brian & Caroline Haley
Lindsey & Mark Hanna
The HousEstes Family
Ellie Lochridge
Carolyn & Jack Long
Wendy & Steve Martinez
Juan Miro & Rosa Rivera
Laura Moorman
L. Richard Scroggins
Deborah Sharp
Chuck Smith
Kate Thompson
Wendy Dunham Tita
Melba D. Whatley Charitable Fund
