The Los Angeles Watts Towers (Conservation and Cultural Heritage)

Rating:
Summary: Bravo, Rodia!
Review: I am a distant relative of Sabato Rodia, and I'm always on the lookout for information about him and his beautiful towers. This book has some of the most beautiful pictures I've seen of the towers, as well as lots of fascinating information about the man and his work.

This book actually has something for everyone. If you're interested in the history of Los Angeles, this book offers an interesting slice of that history. If you're interested in the immigrant experience in America, you'll get a lot of that. If you're interested in pottery, tilework, sculpture, or visual arts of any kind, bingo. If you're interested in engineering, there's a bit of that as well.

I've always felt Sabato Rodia was a genius, but I couldn't put words to how or why. After reading this book, I have a better understanding of why the Watts Towers are so miraculous. The story of the Watts Towers is a story of immigrant determination and the American Dream. It's a story about the power of one person. It's a story about the strength of community. It's a story for everybody. Read it and be inspired.

Rating:
Summary: A good testament to a great American art work
Review: The Watts Towers are one of America's great unique works of folk art/ architecture. The Goldstones' book documents their mysterious construction, the battle for their preservation, and provides many color photographs. But the disappointment is that the authors are unable to provide much insight into Simon Rodia, the enigmatic immigrant who built this mosaic monument in his backyard and then just walked away from them. The Watts Towers are visually glorious, but also speak to the artistic vision in "ordinary people" and the importance of obsession.