I was intrigued by the multiple references to Watt's Tower in Underworld. I meant to write about this earlier, but haven't had a chance. Both Klara and Nick (I think) are entranced by the building- a structure built of waste. Wikipedia says its "non-traditional vernacular architecture" built primarily of steel, wire mesh and mortar. However, "found objects" cover the buildings: bed frames, bottles, ceramic tiles, scrap metal and sea shells.
The idea that trash can be compiled into a piece of art is baffling in the beginning, but then Klara herself turns to that idea- that we can save the waste and put it on clean museum walls and it becomes beautiful. Nick is reminded of his father as he strolls through Watts Towers "The work he (Rodia- the architect) did is a kind of swilring free-souled noise, a jazz cathedral, and the power of the thing, for me, the deep disturbance, was that my own ghost father was living in the walls." Good art stirs emotions- everyone knows that, but when you take stuff no one else wants and turn it into something that speaks- that's impressive. Nick's job is centered around boxing up waste and hiding it from the world- whereas Rodia and Klara find the most boring trash and turn it into art.
Picture:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/ff/Highsmithwattstowers.jpg