More Than $10k Raised to Save Santa Monica's Chain Reaction

While more than $10,000 has been raised so far to restore Santa Monica's anti-nuclear sculpture, the artist's family and community supporters still have a long way to go.

Fundraisers are working to pull together the nearly half-million dollars the city says is needed to restore Chain Reaction, which was created by Pulitzer-prize winning cartoonist Paul Conrad.

"Everyone is trying their hardest to do what they can to pitch in. It seems to me the Conrad family and the community are happy to help with the cost of refurbishing," activist Jerry Rubin said.

A special concert and fundraising event is set for 8:30 p.m. April 27 at Rusty's Surf Ranch at the Santa Monica Pier and will feature live music from the New Roads Jazz Band featuring Kaya Mandissa, the Lefteous Sisters, Sessions Stars and Half Brother. (See the PDF to the right.)

David Conrad, the sculptor's son, said several fundraisers are planned to help increase awareness about Chain Reaction so that it will be easier to approach foundations and to apply for grants.

"We think it is so important this thing is saved," Conrad said, adding that he believes raising nearly half a million dollars is possible.

Seven former Santa Monica mayors, including Judy Abdo, Jim Conn, Michael Feinstein, Paul Rosenstein, Nat Trives, Denny Zane and Ruth Y. Goldway have signed a letter supporting the restoration of the sculpture.

A Facebook page, Save Chain Reaction, had 123 members as of early Thursday morning.

The debate about whether to keep the mushroom cloud sculpture in the city's public art collection erupted after a preliminary report released early last year found the piece had corroded and could topple in an earthquake or sever windstorm. City officials have argued they couldn't justify spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to preserve the work.

In January, the Santa Monica Landmarks Commission recognized the 26-foot tall mushroom cloud named "Chain Reaction" has become recognized as an iconic work of art that makes an "important statement" about activism and progressive politics in Santa Monica.

The sculptor, Paul Conrad, was best known for his Pulitzer-prize winning political cartoons in the Los Angeles Times. Conrad, who died in 2010, served in World War II and won Pulitzers in 1964, 1971 and 1984 for his "fiercely confrontational" political cartoons.

If the statue is ultimately removed from Santa Monica's public art collection, it would be offered first to Conrad’s family.

Tickets to the April 27 fundraiser are on sale at savechainreaction.brownpapertickets.com.

SEE ALSO:

8 Month Deadline Set for Sculpture Fundraising 

City Ready to Give up on Anti-Nuke Sculpture

The Cost of Saving Santa Monica's Anti-Nuke Sculpture?

Sculpture Gets Unanimous Landmark Vote