AN OPEN
LETTER FROM FORMER SANTA MONICA MAYORS SUPPORTING SAVING AND
RESTORING PAUL CONRAD'S "CHAIN REACTION" SCULPTURE:
To Who It May Concern:
As former Mayors of Santa Monica, we would like to take this opportunity
to individually and collectively voice our full support for saving and
restoring the iconic "Chain Reaction" public art peace sculpture
in our Civic Center, especially now that it has unanimously and rightly
been designated a City Landmark by our Santa Monica Landmarks Commission.
As Mayors, we have always taken pride in Santa Monica's commitment to
art, landmarks, and peace. "Chain Reaction" was a monumental
and generous gift to our great City. The late three-time Pulitzer Prize
winning editorial cartoonist Paul Conrad, who designed and created the
26-foot-tall sculpture, would be pleased that so many people are working
so diligently on making sure the restoration of "Chain Reaction"
becomes a reality.
Conrad's unique and creative design depicting a nuclear mushroom cloud
made of large chain links has a timely message he inscribed at the sculpture
base: "This is a statement of peace. May it never become an epitaph."
We, as former Mayors, strongly urge everyone to support the Conrad family
and community efforts to help raise the funds the City says is needed
for the restoration effort. Whether your tax-deductable donation is smaller,
mid range, or a very large donation by a concerned individual or foundation
"angel", it will be deeply appreciated.
The Conrad family website and Facebook page will have donation information
and will be updated with other "Chain Reaction" information
periodically. We urge everyone, whether or not you live in Santa Monica,
to get involved in supporting this creative and important effort.
Website: ConradProjects.com
Facebook page: Facebook.com/SaveChainReaction
With the City, the Conrad family, artists and students, as well as the
local and global peace community all helping, we can create a positive
chain reaction of support for "Chain Reaction".
Thank you,
Former Santa Monica Mayors:
Judy Abdo, Jim Conn, Michael Feinstein, Paul Rosenstein, Nat Trives, Denny
Zane
Paul Francis Conrad
June 27, 1924 - September 4, 2010
All images on the following pages are © Copyright, Paul Conrad Estate.
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