tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934041490878801751.post6598057269159965757..comments2024-03-17T12:30:03.009-05:00Comments on Teaching Authors--6 Children's Authors Who Also Teach Writing: Something from NothingCarmela Martinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543808551988338496noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934041490878801751.post-7233084366899101552018-08-31T18:11:35.633-05:002018-08-31T18:11:35.633-05:00Mary Ann! Wonderful post! Next time, I'll me...Mary Ann! Wonderful post! Next time, I'll meet you there (I live an easy drive from there)April Halprin Waylandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10760393691320267240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934041490878801751.post-39641674401018727592018-08-18T00:03:57.201-05:002018-08-18T00:03:57.201-05:00Thank you, DIZzy (I may have left out an exclamati...Thank you, DIZzy (I may have left out an exclamation point). There is a form of art called "outsider art"...people who are not trained and who use unusual materials for their work. Sam would be a good example. Like I said, I've seen (not very good) pictures of the Towers, and have heard the story of how they were built, but until you are right there, and see in detail what he used...you can still see the Seven-Up and Canada Dry logos on some of the bottles, a cup handle here and there, a teapot spout protruding from a column...his address and name tediously fashioned by cutting tile (all the s's are backwards, so I suspect he might have been dyslexic)....you are blown away. It's.a small slice of a plot right next to the rail lines so he bought very cheaply. But the number of things he constructed besides the towers on that small plot of land...you feel have you have been to another country. It's dizzyfying. I can't wait until they finish renovating the interior so I can see the fish pond and the gazebo and the "ships wheel"...I'm so happy to share Sam's work (I feel like I know the guy personally after so much reading and being there. Sam may have not finished...some of the walls next to the railroad was left unfinished and there are the skeletons of finials for the tops of some of the structure...one is a bowling ball, and another a kitchen colander....that weren't covered in cement and ornamented....but it hardly matters. There's a piece of Wonderland in a cul-de-sac of Watts. One more detail...the riots of 1965 happened a block or two over from the Towers. The neighbors on 107th Street sheltered the teachers who gave lessons at the Art Center, built next to the wall, because they were white faces in a black neighborhood. The neighbors also made sure that the looting and burning didn't come anywhere near their beloved Towers. <br />Mary Ann Rodmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00713067187874692067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934041490878801751.post-84552913566786251792018-08-17T17:51:43.172-05:002018-08-17T17:51:43.172-05:00I love this MAR!
I sometimes consider myself an &q...I love this MAR!<br />I sometimes consider myself an "educated man", but I must admit that I had no earthly idea about or really any inclination to know about the Watts towers, but you have changed that for me. I am intrigued, and have set upon finding out even more...although, in all actuality, you did just give me enough information here in your wonderful writing that really I'm not quite sure what else I could want. Thank you for opening my eyes to something and someone that I may never have stumbled upon otherwise. Perhaps I just "think" I'm educated.lol<br /> I agree that we all use what we can to create whatever it is we decide to delve into. I am no real writer, however, my aspirations aren't to be known as such.I am simply a man that tends to share his thoughts aloud on certain social media platforms..be there an audience or not.I do what I can, with what I have...like Mr.Rodia..and I enjoy it. Thank you for the introduction and the knowledge. I look forward to your next Teaching Authors work.<br />We are all "building something big"...even if no one else sees it. <br />DG**D!ZzY**https://www.blogger.com/profile/08582549571027674719noreply@blogger.com