The Wonderful Towers

of Watts

Woof the holidays. Amirite?

In keeping with the spirit of our book this week most items linked below are under $50 with a focus on handcrafted, repurposed, and preloved gifts for friends, neighbors, and your mom — and how to make them yourself!

Also, if you reach the end of this week’s LOL you’ll find the original episode of Reading Rainbow that featured our book. Enjoy <3

THE WONDERFUL TOWERS OF WATTS

by Patricia Zelver and Frané Lessac

A true story about an Italian immigrant who crafted public art in the impoverished Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles.

“Simon (Sam) Rodia had no formal engineering or architectural training.  Yet, over the course of three decades, he constructed an artistic masterpiece in his own backyard – the Watts Towers.

Using things other people had thrown away, such as broken bottles and tiles, pieces of mirror and glass, seashells, and bits of pottery, he adorned the collection of 17 interconnected sculptural towers. His imaginative salvaging and perseverance can be seen today, as people from all over the world still come to marvel at Sam’s dream.”

MOTHERHOOD

by The Wonderful Towers of Watts

My mother was in town and it was a rough visit. We both worked so hard. She didn’t feel appreciated. Neither did I.

We needed an adventure, so I dragged her out of bed to take the kids to see the fairy houses of point richmond.

I think my mother was enchanted.

I know my toddler was awestruck,

and I was stunned.

So, no one asks him to make these?

No.

No one pays this artist?

No.

No one outside of a small area in the East Bay of San Fransisco even knows about or notices this work?

No.

You mean to tell me that for years, out of pure love, this artist crafts whimsy for strangers and neighbors? And all he gets in return is people call him “crazy” and smile?

And all he gets in return is the delight of those around them?

How can I thank you, I thank you.

And I think all we ever get in return is the joy of everyone around us.

Do you see it?

See it. See that all the world moves with the energy you put out and what you create is what you have and what you see and what you grow and how you know if you’re doing it right is if all you see is the happiness of everyone around you.

What other thanks do you need?

Okay. Let’s build you a fairy house. I’ll add petrified moss to the roof and burn my fingertips with hot glue and rip apart my favorite roses. Don’t worry. I won’t even notice. I’ll be too busy covering a tiny chair in broken amethyst and painting it all pink through the window so it glitters when the light hits it just so.

Considering every point of view your sparkling eyes could catch I’ll paint it again.

Then I’ll crawl on the bathroom floor and empty my poisoned stomach and think only of finishing your fairy house so that you can wake up and see the light on and know someone will always be home.

I just want you to know it. I don’t need you to say it.

So, I’ll stay up into the middle of the full moon and dream of your delicate fingers opening the front door and smelling the honey spelt biscuits and the well done cheeze-itz and maybe you’ll try one. Don’t forget a slice of the butter we made and the ginger honey too!

It won’t matter if you eat the biscuits. There is also a plate full of moonlight. You can have that.

I cry because I’ll never really know you. Even if you’re my own mother. But I hope you see my light on and the happiness of everyone around you.

Then you’ll know I’ve been there with you.

It won’t matter if you think I’m crazy or not.

FOR YOUR MOTHER

by The Wonderful Towers of Watts