As great as Wauwatosa is, perhaps its best attribute (other than its shape) is its proximity to Milwaukee. I mean no offense in saying that. I swear! It’s just that to the uninformed or the non-local, it might be tough to truly know where Milwaukee ends and Tosa begins. The cities flow seamlessly into each other. Moreover, many bars, restaurants, and cafes that have experienced success in Milwaukee proper have a tendency to expand into the hip suburb it borders.
Still, there are plenty of certified Wauwatosa gems. Ono Kine Grindz, Walter’s, Cranky Al’s, and Ray’s Wine & Spirits all come to mind, for example. As of late May, Tosa welcomed another awesome amenity to the city. And unlike many of the other suburban standouts I’ve already named, there’s absolutely nothing like it in Milwaukee itself. As the headline likely alerted you to already, I’m talking about that big ass wooden troll. When you see the thing, there’s no confusion: You’re absolutely and unequivocally in Wauwatosa!
On the city’s western edge in a residential neighborhood on 116th St. that’s nestled a few blocks off North Ave. sits Firefly Grove Park, a relatively new community green space that was previously unused. As of this past spring, the park is now home to a work of public art that was produced by a world-renowned artist. The giant troll sculpture known as “Mama Rosa” was made by Thomas Dambo, a Danish artist who has produced more than 150 troll sculptures—primarily massive undertakings made using recycled materials—that are displayed throughout the world. Of those, just over 40 can be found in the U.S. and just one can be seen in Wisconsin…now.
Yep! There’s currently but one solitary Dambo in the entirety of the Badger State and it’s found deep within the innards of Wauwatosa. Between being out of town when it was officially unveiled, then being buried by festival season and struck with personal tragedy, then kind of forgetting about it for a while, I didn’t manage to get to Firefly Grove Park until this month. To be honest, I also took my sweet time because I was a little skeptical about the sort of significance a towering timber troll statue could have as I went into the experience. That all changed once I parked and crossed the threshold into the park.
Even from afar, the 24-foot tall figure is astounding.
The pictures don’t exactly do it justice, but maybe this one with a woman of average height posed next to it can show you a glimpse of Mama Rosa’s magnitude.
Upon closer inspection, it’s all the more amazing to see the detail that went into arranging the scraps of salvaged wood and pieces taken from local trees to compose the troll’s body, clothing, hair, and facial contours. Someone could potentially camp out in one of Mama Rosa’s nostrils. (Note: I’m not encouraging that.)
Dambo’s attention to detail also extends to the sculpture’s lower extremities…even down to the toenail. If any of you out there were curious about how Mama Rosa is doing in the feet department, you’re welcome! (I guess?)
And if you’re wondering whether this 24-foot recycled wood statue of a troll has a big ‘ol butt, you need wonder no more. It does!
Really, Dambo’s Mama Rosa is but one part—albeit an enormous and attention-grabbing part—of a shimmering new piece of public land in a previously underutilized part of a Milwaukee suburb. However, it’s unarguably the reason to come to Firefly Grove Park and to pay another visit to Wauwatosa in general. And while you’re there troll peeping, swing by Crafty Cow for an installment of our Midweek Music series and tell them some combination of Milwaukee Record and Thomas Dambo’s 156th troll sculpture known as “Mama Rosa” sent you. They’ll know what it means.
That giant troll in Wauwatosa: Larger than life and actually super cool.
