Giant Art Takes Shape in WBCA’s Clay Studio
With trees blooming and water warming, summer is a good time to consider Minnesota as one of the best places to spend your time. And thanks to a recent mention in TIME Magazine’s “World’s Greatest Places” list, it’s no longer an exaggeration—especially when talking about a special corner in Detroit Lakes.
Tucked but not hidden away in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, are five giant trolls, made by Danish recycle artist Thomas Dambo. Made from discarded materials, each troll stands tall, ready to educate us humans about caring for nature, animals, and each other. Leading the five trolls is Alexa, whose spellbook tells the story of a town where little people, lured by the Golden Rabbit, became addicted to their pursuit of gold. But the rabbit never returned. Now, Alexa faces the lake, cooking up a special elixir to challenge the Golden Rabbit and free the little people.
She comes carrying all her tools, a wagon full of bird houses, her spellbook, and magic mirrors. And, if you look closely at her neck, you will see a beautiful acorn necklace made by White Bear Center for the Arts’s own ceramics instructor, Jeni O’Brien, and it’s a perfect example of what can happen when inspiration meets possibility in WBCA’s classrooms.
The collaboration between Thomas and Jeni started through a shared connection, and when Thomas found out that Jeni was a ceramicist, he invited her to create Alexa’s necklace. She spent much of the spring of 2024 crafting “ten apple-sized, imperfect clumps in yellow and green as if a troll had made them with natural dye,” per his instructions.
For Jeni, it was an exciting challenge to take on, and what better way to create the beads than WBCA’s clay studios? She used reclaimed clay to stay true to Thomas’s mission of creating art that inspires exploration and demonstrates the potential of recycled materials. She then spent two months, along with 300 other volunteers, installing the trolls throughout Detroit Lakes. When Jeni saw the article, she was thrilled to learn that out of the hundreds of trolls Thomas has built, including the five in Detroit Lakes, Alexa’s Elixir was chosen as one of TIME Magazine’s “World’s Greatest Places.”
The process of creating the necklace for Alexa’s Elixir is just one example of the artistic feats possible at WBCA. Whether you’re a beginner or experienced artist, WBCA is a space to learn and grow. But, it’s not just the space — it’s the talented teaching artists that make it all possible. With their guidance, students can learn new techniques, explore their intuition, and find the same creative freedom that allowed Jeni to contribute to a world-famous public art installation.
You can explore the professional work of Jeni and other instructors at WBCA’s Instructor Showcase, which opens May 31 and runs through July 19 in WBCA’s Exhibition Hall. Featuring the works of over thirty instructors, the show highlights the creativity and expertise of teaching artists that make WBCA what it is: a vibrant place for artistic growth. Want to create something akin to Jeni’s troll beads? The instructors at WBCA can help you do just that.