Simon Rodia
| Sabato Rodia | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 15, 1875 Serino, Avellino, Italy |
| Died | July 17, 1965 (aged 90) Martinez, California, U.S. |
| Other names | Simon, Sam |
| Known for | Watts Towers |
Sabato "Simon" Rodia[1] (April 15, 1875 – July 16, 1965) was an Italian-American architect. Rodia created the Watts Towers, one of the most famous landmarks in Los Angeles.
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[edit] Biography
Rodia was born and raised in Serino, Italy.[2][3] He emigrated to the United States with his brother at the age of 15; the two first lived in Pennsylvania until the latter died in a mining incident. Rodia then moved to Seattle, Washington, where he married Lucia Ucci in 1902. The couple moved to California and resided in Oakland, where Rodia's three children were born. Following his divorce from Ucci in 1912, he relocated to Long Beach and worked odd jobs before settling in Watts in 1920.[4]
He began construction of the Watts Towers in 1921, but did not finish them until 1954. They were frequently vandalized by neighbors; Rodia cited this as his reason for moving to Martinez, where he remained until his death on July 16, 1965.[5][4] Generally, it is believed that Rodia never returned to Watts after moving away from the city.
[edit] Legacy
A photograph of Simon Rodia is included on the cover of the Beatles' album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, released in 1967. The public Simon Rodia Continuation High School in Watts is named for him.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ There has been some question as to what Rodia was called during his lifetime; some sources have cited that his birth name was "Sabatino" and it is disputed as to if he was called "Simon" during his lifetime. It is widely known and accepted that he was referred to as "Sam" by close friends. His surname has also been misspelled as "Rodella" or "Rodilla".
- ^ About Sam Rodia - The watts Towers — official site
- ^ The Social Security Death Index uses 15 April 1886. Other reference works use 1873, 1875, and 1879.
- ^ a b Big Orange Landmarks -- No. 15 - Towers of Simon Rodia.
- ^ "Simon Rodia, 90, Builder of Famed Watts Towers, Dies in Martinez". Los Angeles Times. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/484849972.html?dids=484849972:484849972&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Jul+19,+1965&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=Simon+Rodia,+90,+Builder+of+Famed+Watts+Towers,+Dies+in+Martinez&pqatl=google. Retrieved 2010-03-19. "Simon Rodia, 90, Italian born tile setter who built the controversial Watts Towers here to express his appreciation for his adopted country, died Saturday in ..."
[edit] External links
- Photo documentary of Watts Towers at Blurrylens.com
- Art Junction site on the Watts Towers
- PBS article
- Simon Rodia - Great Buildings Online
- Watts Towers web site -- photo of Simon Rodia.
- Simon Rodia at Find a Grave
- Rodia's Watts Towers - Photo documentary of the towers and the ruins of Rodia's house, with new biographical information.
- 1879 births
- 1965 deaths
- American artists
- American sculptors
- American designers
- American architects
- American engineers
- Artisans
- American landscape and garden designers
- Designers from California
- Artists from California
- Art in the Greater Los Angeles Area
- Visionary environments
- Italian artists
- Italian architects
- Italian engineers
