“Troll on Stroll” are Burlington County Department of Resource Conservation and Parks Director Mary Pat Robbie (left to right); Burlington County Administrator Eve Cullinan; Burlington County Commissioner Balvir Singh; artist KT Carney, the troll’s creator; New Jersey Assemblywoman Andrea Katz, Burlington County Commissioner Tom Pullion and Burlington County Commissioner Deputy Director Dan O’Connell.
Burlington County has some new residents and they’re more than a bit troll-ish.
The trolls are part of Burlington County Troll Trek, a new public art exhibition organized by the Burlington County Commissioners and the Burlington County Parks System. The exhibition was inspired by Big Rusty, the large troll created by world renown artist Thomas Dambo at the site of Hainesport’s future Creek Turn Park. And like Big Rusty, each of the 18 new trolls are made largely from recycled and natural materials. They can now be found in locations throughout the county.
Burlington County kicked off this whimsical exhibition last month during the Arts After Dark festival at Historic Smithville Park, where two of the new trolls were unveiled. A new map detailing the locations of all 18 trolls (including GPS coordinates) was also released during the ceremony. Additional copies will be distributed by the Burlington County Parks System at future parks events, and the map can also be found online at https://www.co.burlington.nj.us/2076/Troll-Trek-2024.
The new trolls were made by 16 artists and teams of artists selected from dozens of submissions made in response to a Burlington County Parks System prospectus. Each artist or team was awarded a $500 stipend to help cover the cost of materials and installation expenses.
The stipends and other costs related to the exhibition are funded by the Burlington County Commissioners and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts with support from the following co-sponsors: Mill Race Village, Main Street Mount Holly, Rancocas Valley High School Environmental Club, Rancocas Nature Center, Township of Lumberton, Delanco Environmental Advisory Board and Delanco Recreation Commission, Arts Guild New Jersey, Rising Sun Counseling Service, Bordentown City Environmental Commission and Springfield Township.
The troll locations were selected by the Burlington County Parks System and co-sponsors.
The new trolls are expected to remain on display at their current locations through Dec. 31.
