Sculptures – Spaces, LLC

Sculptures in Denmark

While traveling in Denmark, I was inspired by the work of sculptor Thomas Dambo, who builds giant trolls from recycled wood and has placed them in landscapes across the world. I followed his troll map and saw many of the sculptures. I love how people will go out of their way to find them—or stumble upon one unexpectedly along a trail, suddenly surprised by a towering figure emerging from the woods.

Sculptures in the U.S.

Thomas has also created sculptures in the United States, and I’ve been lucky enough to visit two of them. I’m especially grateful that one is right here in my home state of Wisconsin. I’ve heard he hopes to place a sculpture in every state someday.

When installing his pieces, Thomas often invites community members to volunteer, and I hope to take part in that process myself one day.

His creativity sparked an idea for me when a neighbor shared some recycled wood—I wondered if I could make a sculpture that not only reused materials, but also told the story of an endangered species. My first creation was an ornate box turtle.The ornate box turtle is a small, beautifully patterned turtle native to the prairies and grasslands of the central United States. Its dark domed shell is marked with bright yellow streaks that look almost like sunbursts. Unlike many turtles, it has a hinged shell that allows it to close up tightly for protection. Sadly, populations have declined in many states, and in Wisconsin, the ornate box turtle is listed as endangered due to habitat loss, road mortality, and collection from the wild.

By creating this sculpture, I hope to spark curiosity, share the turtle’s story, and encourage others to take part in protecting its fragile future.

My first creation was an ornate box turtle, which took me two months to complete. I am currently deciding which endangered species to bring to life next. If you have ideas, feel free to write to me on the contact page.

Ornate box turtle sculpture