L'Italo-Americano

L'Italo-Americano THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2024 www.italoamericano.org 4 T he Watts Tow- ers are an extra- ordinary symbol o f i m m i g r a n t r e s i l i e n c e a n d artistic ambition and are, today, one of Los Angeles' m o s t b e l o v e d a n d u n i q u e landmarks. Conceived and built over three decades by Italian immigrant Sabato "Simon" Rodia, the Tow- e r s c a p t u r e t h e c u l t u r a l fusion of his Italian roots with the creative and lively world of Los Angeles. Rising nearly 100 feet above the n e i g h b o r h o o d o f W a t t s , t h e s e s t r u c t u r e s — c r e a t e d with an eclectic mix of found materials like glass bottles, pottery shards, seashells, a n d f a u c e t h a n d l e s — n o w rival icons like the Holly- w o o d S i g n a n d L A C M A ' s "Urban Light" in popularity and visibility. I n 2 0 2 1 , t h e W a t t s T o w e r s m a r k e d t h e i r c e n t e n n i a l , but weather and time had taken a toll on their unconventional con- struction. The Los Angeles County Museum of Art ( L A C M A ) s t e p p e d i n t o lead a large-scale stabiliza- tion effort under the guid- ance of Italian conservator E r m a n n o C a r b o n a r a . Despite pandemic-related delays, Carbonara and his team meticulously repaired cracks, reinforced corroded sections, and used special m o r t a r t o m a t c h R o d i a ' s original designs, bringing the Towers back to stability while preserving their char- acter. Around the towers, the Watts Towers Arts Cen- ter Campus was born, to supports cultural pride and connection within the com- m u n i t y . P r o g r a m s a t t h e c e n t e r , l e d b y d i r e c t o r Rosie Lee Hooks, include classes and exhibits that cel- ebrate the Towers' legacy and Rodia's unique artistry. The surrounding campus, which features the Charles Mingus Youth Arts Center a n d G a r d e n S t u d i o , h a s become a vital community space where residents and visitors come to reflect on the enduring power of her- itage and creativity. As a National Historic Landmark and symbol of immigrant artistry, the Watts Towers remain a profound reminder of Rodia's journey and the v a l u e s o f p e r s e v e r a n c e , c o m m u n i t y , a n d c r e a t i v e expression. T h e s t o r y o f t h e W a t t s Towers is fascinating: some believe Simon Rodia's inspi- ration for building the Watts T o w e r s w a s t h e a n c i e n t F e a s t o f t h e L i l i e s i n N o l a , i n t h e p r o v i n c e o f N a p l e s , n o t f a r f r o m h i s childhood town of Serino. During the June patronal festival, men carry pointed towers on their shoulders in parades. Dominating the tri- angular Watts complex, in fact, are three skeletal tow- e r s t h a t f r o m a d i s t a n c e r e s e m b l e t h e m a s t s o f a ship, and which, as restorer E r m a n n o C a r b o n a r a explains, are not the only e l e m e n t s t h a t m a k e u p Rodia's work. "We call them the Watts Towers because t h e t o w e r s a r e t h e m o s t o b v i o u s p a r t , b u t i t i s a much larger and more com- plex site. This work includes architecture, sculpture, dec- oration, mosaic, and many colors and materials. Rodia b u i l t a p l a c e i n w h i c h h e poured all his imagination, everything that came to his mind, free from any con- straints." B o r n S a b a t o R o d i a i n 1879, the artist came to the United States at the age of 15 to work in the Pennsylva- nia coal mines. Known as Simon or Sam, he lived in Seattle, Oakland, and Long Beach before buying a piece of land in Watts, just before the neighborhood became part of Los Angeles. Rodia began building on his prop- erty in 1921 and completed m o s t o f t h e s t r u c t u r e a r o u n d t h e m i d - 1 9 5 0 s . "Simon Rodia had bought this triangular plot of land with the specific intention of building 'something big,' to quote him. The fascinating thing is that as you explore the site more deeply, you realize he never stopped— o v e r d e c a d e s — b u i l d i n g , m o d i f y i n g , m o v i n g , a n d reconstructing parts of his work." Carbonara says. The Italian conservator was born and raised in Monopoli, in the province of Bari; after studying and teaching at the School for Restoration in Ravenna, and working on i n t e r n a t i o n a l p r o j e c t s i n T u n i s i a , M o r o c c o , Afghanistan, Lebanon, and Eastern Europe, he moved permanently to Los Angeles i n 2 0 1 8 . H e r e h e b e g a n working for the Los Angeles C o u n t y M u s e u m o f A r t (LACMA), which is how he got involved in the Watts Towers restoration project. How far along is the restoration work right now? We're currently focused The Italian touch behind the Watts Towers' revival: Ermanno Carbonara's journey SILVIA NITTOLI NEWS & FEATURES TOP STORIES PEOPLE EVENTS CONTINUED TO PAGE 6 Ermanno Carbonara at the Watts Towers in LA. Photo courtesy courtesy of Ermanno Carbonara

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