LACMA May Fund The Fading Watts Towers Due to a severe budget
crisis, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art is interested in
stepping into the breach as curator and conservator of the Watts
Towers this summer to maintain the historic landmark. The Towers
were built by Italian immigrant construction worker Sabato Rodia
in his spare time over a period of 33 years, from 1921 to 1954.
He created the framework of steel, wire and concrete and
ornamented the three main spires and their 14 surrounding
sculptural elements with colorful bits of broken glass, pottery
and seashells. His work is an example of non-traditional
vernacular architecture and American Naïve art. Article LA
Times.