You’re strolling down a side street, listening to some music, when you notice something out of the corner of your eye. Your instinct tells you that you should take a look. Pausing your music, you approach a colorful object on the ground. You lean forward to examine it and realize what lies before you is a treasure chest emblazoned with the Triforce symbol from The Legend of Zelda.
Photo credit: Rebecca L. Bennett
The strange thing is, this is actually happening in Austin, TX. Artist Ezekiel Buchheit has been hiding handmade Zelda trinkets around the city, purely for fun for years. The items include crocheted bombs, sprite-styled mini swords, keychains, Triforce necklaces, and even treasure chests. Plus it’s totally cool for anyone to pick up the item and take it. One time, he placed peeler bead swords under a bridge and a notice that read “It’s dangerous to go alone! Take this.”
Photo credit Ezekiel Buchheit via Kotaku
Buchheit told Austin.com:
“I just thought it would be a little fun and surreal if you were out hiking and, holy shit, there’s a treasure chest off the road… If you don’t know what Zelda is and you find it, it’s still cool. If you do know what Zelda is, then it’s bonus cool.”
Buchheit started his handmade adventure by inserting piranha plants into local community gardens. From there, he attached items to walls under bridges and hiding chests with items inside. Some people have even replaced the treasures they take with other goodies such as movie and lottery tickets. Currently, Buchheit is collaborating with fellow artists to create a full fledged scavenger hunt. He hopes that others will continue to spread the magic of surprise and adventure. If you’d like to get involved, you can reach him through his Tumblr page Hyrule In Austin.
Currently, Buchheit only works out of Austin, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t go out and sprinkle some fantasy into your own city. What do you think you would want to do in your hometown? Let us know in the comments!
Featured image credit: Nintendo