Chain Reaction (sculpture) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chain Reaction |
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| Artist | Paul Conrad |
| Year | 1991, dedicated 1992 |
| Type | Sculpture |
| Medium | Copper chain link and stainless steel |
| Dimensions | 8 metres (26 ft) tall |
| Location | Santa Monica, California, United States |
| Owner | Administered by City of Santa Monica Arts Department |
Chain Reaction is a special sculpture in Santa Monica, California. It's a monument for peace, designed by an American artist named Paul Conrad. The sculpture looks like a giant mushroom cloud, which is what happens after a nuclear explosion. But this artwork isn't about war; it's a strong message for peace and against nuclear weapons.
The sculpture is made of stainless steel and fiberglass, with many copper chain links. It stands 8 meters (about 26 feet) tall and weighs 5.5 tons! It was put up in 1991 next to the Santa Monica Civic Center. At its base, there's a powerful message: "This is a statement of peace. May it never become an epitaph." This means it hopes nuclear war never happens. In 2012, Chain Reaction became the first piece of public art to be named a historic landmark in Santa Monica.
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The Artist's Story: Paul Conrad
Paul Conrad was a famous newspaper cartoonist. He started drawing for the Denver Post in 1950. Early in his career, he began drawing cartoons about peace and the dangers of nuclear weapons. He believed in countries working together for peace, not fighting.
Later, Conrad worked for the Los Angeles Times for nearly 40 years. He often drew cartoons that criticized political leaders and their decisions, especially when he felt they were leading to war or conflict. In the 1980s, he spoke out against the build-up of military weapons and the arms race between countries.
Conrad also became a sculptor. He often made smaller artworks to help raise money for good causes. He met a kind person named Joan Kroc, who was the widow of Ray Kroc, the founder of McDonald's. Joan Kroc was very active in the anti-nuclear movement in the United States. She wanted to get rid of nuclear weapons. She became friends with Conrad and secretly gave $250,000 to help him build this important anti-nuclear sculpture, Chain Reaction.
What Chain Reaction Looks Like
The sculpture is based on one of Paul Conrad's cartoon drawings. It has a unique, almost messy look, much like his political cartoons. This style helps show the serious message of the artwork.
The sculpture's main shape is a mushroom cloud, but it's also made to look like a giant chain. It was built by a skilled artist named Peter M. Carlson. He has also created sculptures for many other famous artists. To make the chain look, Carlson linked together 38,000 hollow brass pipes. These pipes are usually used for plumbing! They are welded together and attached to a steel frame covered in fiberglass.
The whole design of Chain Reaction is meant to make people think about nuclear disarmament. This means reducing or getting rid of nuclear weapons to make the world safer.
How the Sculpture Came to Be
Paul Conrad first thought about building this sculpture in 1988. He wanted to place it in either Beverly Hills or Santa Monica. He made a small model of the sculpture and showed it to the Santa Monica Art Commission.
For four years, Santa Monica discussed whether to accept the artwork. Conrad also showed his idea to Beverly Hills. However, the Beverly Hills committee decided not to take the sculpture. They said they didn't have a big enough space for such a large artwork.
In Santa Monica, people had mixed feelings. A survey showed that more residents didn't want the sculpture than did. But the Santa Monica Art Commission voted several times to accept it. Finally, in 1991, the City Council approved the artwork. The money from Joan Kroc was given to the Santa Monica Arts Foundation, and the sculpture became a gift to the city. Santa Monica was known for supporting progressive ideas, including anti-war messages, which fit perfectly with Conrad's sculpture.
Where to Find Chain Reaction
Chain Reaction was installed in 1991 on the lawn of the Santa Monica Civic Center. It's located on the east side of Main Street, between the Santa Monica Courthouse and the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. It's also across the street from the headquarters of the RAND Corporation. The sculpture is only a few blocks from Santa Monica beach and the Pacific Ocean, just east of the Santa Monica Pier.
At the base of the sculpture, there are two plaques. One plaque tells you the artist's name (Paul Conrad), the title (Chain Reaction), the year it was made (1991), and what it's made of (copper chain link and stainless steel). It also says it's a gift to the City of Santa Monica from an anonymous donor. The second plaque has the famous quote: "This is a statement of peace. May it never become an epitaph."
The sculpture was officially dedicated at a "Peace Day" festival on August 1, 1992. A survivor of the Hiroshima atomic bombing, Kaz Suyeishi, spoke at the event.
Keeping the Sculpture Safe
In 1995, the sculpture was checked and found to be in good condition. However, after Paul Conrad passed away in 2010, the city started looking more closely at the sculpture's structure. In 2011, inspectors saw children climbing on it. They did safety tests and found that while the main structure was stable, the fiberglass and the steel frame had some rust and corrosion. The bolts holding the sculpture to its base were also getting weaker. Because of this, the city put a safety fence around the sculpture.
In 2012, the city's Arts Commission and City Council decided that the sculpture should be removed for safety reasons. But they gave supporters time to raise money for repairs. Many people, including art critics, argued that the sculpture was not truly dangerous and should be saved.
While people were raising money, the city applied to make Chain Reaction a historic landmark. After a public meeting, it officially became a landmark. This was a big deal because it was the first public artwork in Santa Monica to get this special status.
The City Council set a deadline for fundraising. Community members worked hard to collect donations for the repairs. In February 2014, the Santa Monica City Council voted to use $100,000 from public donations to finish fixing the sculpture. This meant Chain Reaction would be saved and restored for everyone to enjoy and remember its important message of peace.
See also
- Culture of Los Angeles
- Nuclear Energy (sculpture)
