Watts Tower & Arts Center, Los Angeles, CA

 

One of only nine works of folk art listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Watts Towers, also known as Nuestro Pueblo, are a complex set of 17 separate sculptural pieces built on a residential lot in the Los Angeles community of Watts. Two of the towers rise to a height of nearly 100 feet. The sculptures are constructed from steel pipes and rods, wrapped with wire mesh, coated with mortar, and embedded with pieces of porcelain, tile and glass. Using simple hand tools and cast off materials (broken glass, sea shells, generic pottery and ceramic tile) an Italian immigrant, Simon Rodia, spent nearly 30 years (1921 to 1955) building this tribute to his adopted country and a monument to the spirit of individuals who make their dreams tangible. The adjoining art center houses two galleries and administrative offices, as well as classrooms offering activities ranging from painting and drawing to modern dance.

Address: 1765 East 107th Street, Los Angeles, CA  90002 USA
Phone: (213) 847-4646
Official Website: www.Wattstowers.org
Map and Driving Directions

Additional Resources:

• Watts Tower & Arts Center, Frommer’s
• Watts Tower USA, Lonely Planet
• Watts Towers, Wikepedia