Chain Reaction
Dublin Core
Creator
Paul Conrad
Title
Chain Reaction
Date
1991; dedicated 1992
Medium
Copper chain link and stainless steel, 26 feet tall and 5.5 tons
Abstract
From the imaginative mind of Paul Conrad births the reimagining of his infamous political cartoon Chain Reaction brought to life by Peter M. Carlson. This monument made entirely of pipes made to look like chain link stands 26 feet tall in the heart of Santa Monica captivating the many who come to bask in its political beauty. The statue itself represents the peace in the ending of atmospheric nuclear testing and the breaking of a new dawn that embraces the light following mass destruction. Though efforts were made to eradicate this symbol of everlasting peace back in 2013 its prevalence to the citizens of Santa Monica is what keeps its erect today.
Description
In the center of a ring of ashy colored foliage and bright yellow wildflowers is what appears to be an odd tree. However, it is actually a cartoon-like rendition of a mushroom cloud made entirely of jumbled, oversized grey chain link wound together. The mushroom cloud snakes up from the ground like a lumpy, distorted trunk narrowing in diameter as it extends approximately 26 feet skyward where it billows into a small, round, cloud-like top only slightly larger in diameter than the base of the trunk. Light reflects off the angles of the overly large chain links while simultaneously creating spots of shadows all over the sculpture. This detail along with the sculptures distorted, disproportionate shape creates a cartoonish effect indicative of the artists original illustration.
Contributor
Marian Joyce, Marya Philpott, Mahsa Rezazdeh, Jesus Vega, Calder Scarpa, Tyler Owens
Relation
Chain Reaction is a statement of social protest and a peace memorial. It encourages nuclear disarmament and evokes a visceral sorrow for the destruction incurred by the advancements in nuclear warfare that destroys whole cities. At 26 feet tall, Chain Reaction towers above the viewer, rendering citizens helpless in the face of nuclear destruction. The sculpture is made entirely of steel chain links that symbolize the thousands who are caught in the effects of these brutal blasts of war. The chain links also represent the actual lives lost in such a blast and serve as a physical reminder that the innocent are the ones who pay for war caused by the mistakes of the rich and political elite.
When the sculpture was made, America was just coming out of the Cold War and citizens all over the country were no stranger to the hanging threat of nuclear missiles that cast a cloud over their daily lives. Today, Chain Reaction is still very culturally relevant as threats of nuclear war from different countries, including our own, pile up. In the original illustration, the shadow cast from the rising cloud represent the metaphorical shadow cast upon citizens under the constant threat of nuclear destruction. The world is once again darkened by this shadow unfortunately making Conrad’s message just as relevant today as the day the sculpture was erected.
Chain Reaction is reminiscent of the pop art movement. Just as Warhol used the universally recognizable image of Marilyn Monroe and Lichtenstein used the popular drawing style of comic books in their pop art pieces, Paul Conrad styled his sculpture after an image every American would recognize as seen in photographs, films, and cartoons - the mushroom cloud.
Conrad also uses themes of politics, power, and peace in his sculpture. On a plaque in front of his piece titled Chain Reaction, Paul Conrad states: “This is a statement of peace, may it never become an epitaph”. An epitaph, in short, is a phrase written in memory of someone deceased, like what you would find on a tombstone. When it states “let this not be an epitaph”, it is a warning that this monument, which is erected as a peace memorial, may rather become a war memorial for more people killed from nuclear bombs if we are not diligent in ending nuclear warfare. The memorial part of the art piece is its depiction of the destruction and consequences that follow nuclear war. This relates to Echo of a Scream by David Alfaro Siqueiros, which was created in response to the Spanish Civil War and the effects that it had on society as well as the destruction it caused. Humanity is represented as a helpless baby screaming with anxiety over a heap of debris from what used to be a city devastated by war. Whether art is used to warn society about the results of future war, or used as a representation of humanity in the chaos of post-war devastation, both Siqueiros and Conrad show how war can be catastrophic to society and humanity through different mediums of art.
The artwork was disliked by many Santa Monica residents even though they agreed with its politics, because they thought it was bulky, ugly, and scary. Because of this it only received the approval to be built by one city council vote.
Overtime people grew to accept the sculpture. In 2012, Chain Reaction received landmark status. However, certain city officials continued to dislike the sculpture and as it fell into disrepair they claimed that the aging sculpture was a safety hazard and should be torn down since it would cost half a million dollars to repair. Supporters of the sculpture said this was nonsense. Though they failed to raise the money to repair it, in Feb. 2014 the city council kicked in $100,000 in city funds and agreed to let Chain Reaction stay.
Although sentiments regarding nuclear warfare differ from person to person, the whimsical sculpture by Paul Conrad is both non-threatening enough to be accepted, and relatable enough to be relevant.
Citations:
Hill-Holtzman. "Disputed Sculpture Finally in Place". LA Times. 1991, December 29.
Napoli, Lisa. "The Artist, the Philanthropist, the Sculpture". KCRW. 2013, August 26.
When the sculpture was made, America was just coming out of the Cold War and citizens all over the country were no stranger to the hanging threat of nuclear missiles that cast a cloud over their daily lives. Today, Chain Reaction is still very culturally relevant as threats of nuclear war from different countries, including our own, pile up. In the original illustration, the shadow cast from the rising cloud represent the metaphorical shadow cast upon citizens under the constant threat of nuclear destruction. The world is once again darkened by this shadow unfortunately making Conrad’s message just as relevant today as the day the sculpture was erected.
Chain Reaction is reminiscent of the pop art movement. Just as Warhol used the universally recognizable image of Marilyn Monroe and Lichtenstein used the popular drawing style of comic books in their pop art pieces, Paul Conrad styled his sculpture after an image every American would recognize as seen in photographs, films, and cartoons - the mushroom cloud.
Conrad also uses themes of politics, power, and peace in his sculpture. On a plaque in front of his piece titled Chain Reaction, Paul Conrad states: “This is a statement of peace, may it never become an epitaph”. An epitaph, in short, is a phrase written in memory of someone deceased, like what you would find on a tombstone. When it states “let this not be an epitaph”, it is a warning that this monument, which is erected as a peace memorial, may rather become a war memorial for more people killed from nuclear bombs if we are not diligent in ending nuclear warfare. The memorial part of the art piece is its depiction of the destruction and consequences that follow nuclear war. This relates to Echo of a Scream by David Alfaro Siqueiros, which was created in response to the Spanish Civil War and the effects that it had on society as well as the destruction it caused. Humanity is represented as a helpless baby screaming with anxiety over a heap of debris from what used to be a city devastated by war. Whether art is used to warn society about the results of future war, or used as a representation of humanity in the chaos of post-war devastation, both Siqueiros and Conrad show how war can be catastrophic to society and humanity through different mediums of art.
The artwork was disliked by many Santa Monica residents even though they agreed with its politics, because they thought it was bulky, ugly, and scary. Because of this it only received the approval to be built by one city council vote.
Overtime people grew to accept the sculpture. In 2012, Chain Reaction received landmark status. However, certain city officials continued to dislike the sculpture and as it fell into disrepair they claimed that the aging sculpture was a safety hazard and should be torn down since it would cost half a million dollars to repair. Supporters of the sculpture said this was nonsense. Though they failed to raise the money to repair it, in Feb. 2014 the city council kicked in $100,000 in city funds and agreed to let Chain Reaction stay.
Although sentiments regarding nuclear warfare differ from person to person, the whimsical sculpture by Paul Conrad is both non-threatening enough to be accepted, and relatable enough to be relevant.
Citations:
Hill-Holtzman. "Disputed Sculpture Finally in Place". LA Times. 1991, December 29.
Napoli, Lisa. "The Artist, the Philanthropist, the Sculpture". KCRW. 2013, August 26.
Files
Collection
Citation
Paul Conrad, “Chain Reaction,” SMC Digital Humanities, accessed May 3, 2024, https://smc.omeka.net/items/show/44.