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PHOTOS: The art and science of saving the Watts Towers

KABC
Friday, December 5, 2014
The Watts Towers are one of three sites in California recently labeled 'at risk' by The Cultural Landscape Foundation.
Sabato 'Simon' Rodia embedded his sculptures with seashells, cracked pottery and broken 7-Up bottles.
Conservation scientists from LACMA and engineers from UCLA are monitoring cracks in the iconic structures.
Shattered glass, including 7-Up bottles, create a sparkling mosaic.
Conservation scientists from LACMA are testing various flexible materials to patch and repair cracks in the structures.
LACMA Senior Conservation Scientist Frank Preusser points to a spot where glass has cracked and fallen off the structure.
Cracked glass that's fallen off the structure is examined by conservation scientists.
LACMA Conservation Scientists use thermal images to measure temperature changes to the towers throughout the day.
Italian immigrant Sabato 'Simon' Rodia built The Watts Towers in his own backyard, working alone on the project for 33 years between 1921 and 1954.
The Watts Towers consist of seventeen major structures made of steel covered in mortar and embedded with broken glass, seashells and tile.
The tallest tower soars nearly 100 feet into the air.
Scientists have discovered the towers actually move throughout the day as the structures heat up and cool down with the sun.
LACMA scientists use a portable X-ray machine to peer inside parts of the structure before opening up for possible restoration.
LACMA uses a laser scan to analyze the structures.
Los Angeles County Museum of Art scan of 'The Ship.'
LACMA laser scan of the site, which consists of seventeen major structures scattered over a triangular-shaped lot in Watts.
Los Angeles County Museum of Art laser scan shows bisection of 'The Gazebo.'
Los Angeles County Museum of Art laser scan shows bisection of the center tower.
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The Watts Towers are one of three sites in California recently labeled 'at risk' by The Cultural Landscape Foundation.
John Lewis/TCLF
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