The Watts Towers was declared an endangered site last week by The Cultural Landscape Foundation. The iconic South L.A. art piece was one of 11 landscapes that made the “Landslide” list of at-risk landscapes. The foundation cited “thermal effects, vibration and earthquakes” which have cracked the cement case around the towers’ wire structure.
According to Lucy DeLatorre, a tour guide at the Watts Towers Arts Center, Simon Rodia singlehandedly made the towers of recycled materials, including steel bar, wire mesh and cement.
Although the towers have been undergoing restoration projects under the care of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art since 2011, the towers have passed through multiple owners and have not received proper maintenance in the almost 100 years of its existence, according to the Cultural Landscape Foundation. LACMA has also sought the help of UCLA engineers to help preserve the infrastructure.
But it’s not just scientists and art preservationists supporting the Watts Towers: “The visitors are what keeps them alive,” DeLatorre said. Tours cost $7 for adults and $3 for children and support the Watts Towers Arts Center, which uses the money to maintain a museum and tours. The Towers have become a must-see art destination for international tourists, said DeLatorre, attracting people from as far away as Germany, France and Japan.
LACMA’s contract with the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs ends in 2014 with the possibility of renewal.
LACMA has signed on to help preserve the fanciful artistry of the towers. | Intersections South LA
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