Supporters, including son David Conrad and local character Jerry Peace Activist Rubin, have been for the last few years trying to save a Santa Monica sculpture by late, three-time Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Paul Conrad.

The city of Santa Monica in 2011 began to explore decommissioning the rusting, 26-foot tall monument to disarmament known as “Chain Reaction.” Concerns about children and others getting hurt by climbing on it also prompted the city to fence off the work of art near Santa Monica Civic Center.

Now supporters say they just might have the cash to save “Chain Reaction:”
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David Conrad announced yesterday that $101,000 has been raised to help restore the monument, which is officially a city landmark.

See also: 'Chain Reaction' by Paul Conrad Now a Santa Monica Landmark

Conrad told us that another $50,000 was pledged by the city. The fund raising met a deadline of midnight yesterday to put up or shut up regarding saving “Chain Reaction” from municipal destruction.

Some major names came through with significant cash, including television producer Norman Lear ($25,000 worth), Conrad said.

He thinks the money is enough for a restoration, but it will be up to the city how to proceed. Estimates for the 1991 sculpture's savior ranged from $75,000 to $400,000. Conrad:

There are structural reports that say it's fine. There is some rust inside. But the rust can definitely be stopped.



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Conrad says he'd like to see a “garden barrier” around the sculpture that would dissuade people from climbing on it.

The City Council was scheduled to take up the matter Feb. 25.

Paul Conrad, who drew cartoons for the Los Angeles Times, died in 2010. He received $250,000 to build “Chain Reaction” from San Diego's late Joan Kroc, heir to the McDonald's restaurant fortune.

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