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Event
WESTBOUND: A DOCUMENTARY
A manâs final confessions of a life filled with joy, heartache, and addiction. This is an iconic American tale of 96-year-old Adolph Vandertie â" Grand Duke of the Hobos. Westbound chronicles his struggle to achieve personal redemption by creating an astonishing collection of hobo whimsies and tramp art carvings.
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Tramp art and hobo whimsies were uniquely born of an independent spirit. Hobos whittle. Tramps carve. Both craft amazing objects from discarded cigar boxes and found materials, recycling them into enchanted objects. One man, Adolph Vandertie â" the Grand Duke of the Hobos â" created over 4,000 rare and beautiful pieces of this distinctive folk art form. Each a unique testament for his passion to create.
As a child during the Depression, Adolph was captivated by a desire for travel. Visiting the hobo jungles, he was part of a world where men told stories of adventure and measured time by whittling. Adolph once watched an old hobo whittle a ball- in-cage â" the quintessential design among whittlers. From that moment a lifelong fascination to master a dying art took hold. Each cut into the soft wood fueled the memory of freedom of riding the rails.
At age 21, Adolph put his traveling days behind him. His sweetheart Adeline proposed, they were married and began a life of 70 years together.
As he grew older, Adolph traded one addiction for another, using whittling as a compulsive form of therapy to battle alcohol and tobacco. Releasing him from the fear of losing his family while freeing him to create more and more of his astonishing art. The end result reveals a man that found peace in a sharp blade and a good piece of wood.
Adolph has faced a lifetime of hardship and heartache, joy, and fascination. Westbound is his story â" a story in which unflinching American history and uniquely American art merge.
A candid portrait of a life well-lived, Westbound is an iconic American tale that explores Adolphâs journey toward personal redemption. With an innate desire to leave a legacy â" long before leaving this earthly world â" the film is a poignant look into his family and his work as he strives to understand the past with the hope of forgiveness in the present. Westbound is a celebration of pure creative expression. Adolphâs final confession reveals the last gift he will leave his children.
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LocationDowntown Independent
251 South Main St
Los Angeles, CA 90012
United States
Categories
| Kid Friendly: No |
| Dog Friendly: No |
| Non-Smoking: No |
| Wheelchair Accessible: No |
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