Watts Towers | LACMA
LACMA:
"Constructed between 1921 and 1954/55 by Italian immigrant Simon Rodia, the Watts Towers have become an iconic monument to the city.
The collection of seventeen structures, which Rodia himself called Nuestro Pueblo (“our town”), were erected by hand and made of steel rods wrapped in wire mesh and coated with cement. Embedded into nearly every inch of the environment are shards of ceramics, bottles tiles, shells, and other scraps—often brought to Rodia by others in the neighborhood.
Owned by the State of California and managed by the City of Los Angeles, The Watts Towers are a National Historic Landmark and one of the most widely recognized works of art to come out of Southern California in the last century.
LACMA has partnered with the City of Los Angeles’s Department of Cultural Affairs toward the preservation of this landmark work of art. Throughout 2011 LACMA’s Conservation Center will develop a comprehensive plan for the long-term preservation of the Towers" "I had in mind to do something big and I did it."—Simon Rodia
What do you guys feel about this unique piece? Do you see it as something sophisticated or simply an eye sore? What if these towers were stationed in front of your house?
7 comments:
Interesting piece. We find complex pieces of art to be fascinating. I believe that it is both sophisticated and something for the eye to glare at. People create unique pieces to grab your attention and understand the meaning of it. If I ever saw this in front of my house, I'd hope it won't stay for long.
My thoughts exactly. I like how the community contributes as well, but to see it ALL the time in front of my house would drive me CRAZY!
I found this interview while looking up information about the Watts Towers and a skatepark I think they are trying to get made nearby. http://magazine.lmu.edu/archive/2011/higher-calling-watts-towers
Good interview. I like the idea that someone from the neighborhood used skills that they gained from work that would have been common to everyone that lived in the area.
Oh! Here is the link about the skatepark-which I think is a really good idea. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2010/10/watts-towers-lacma-skateboarding-tony-hawk-gangs-.html
Watts has such a bad reputation, these towers are one of the good things, and making it the center of family and kids activities would help the city. Some of the powers that be don't agree. I think a skatepark that gave the kids a safe place to play would be an ideal way to honor it's maker.
Also, I would totally dig having this in my backyard. Upland can keep it's manicured suburban sameness.
Very interesting article, I really admire the fact that he took the time to gather all the bottles and scraps to create something so big wow
Mary Janini art 3
This art piece is very unique. It definitely makes the eyes soar around because of the curves in the art piece. I also like who there is two of them because it brings out the art piece in a dramatic way.
Samantha Contreras Art 3
I don't find this art piece as an eye sore at all.. They way someone that can create such a huge piece with just rod and cement and still make it look unique and time consuming amazes me. It looks like it took a lot of hard work but the result of it was worth it!
5/14/12
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