Chain Reaction

Chain Reaction is a sculpture near the Santa Monica Civic Center made from copper chains and stainless steel shaped like a mushroom cloud. It rises to a height of 8 meters and appears to capture a moment frozen in time.

The sculpture was designed in 1991 by political cartoonist Paul Conrad and weighs about 5.5 tons. It was created through a donation from Joan Kroc, an heir to the McDonald's fortune.

The inscription at its base reads "This is a statement of peace. May it never become an epitaph," expressing a call for disarmament. It has become a gathering place where visitors reflect on the cost of conflict.

The sculpture sits on a public lawn between Main Street and the Civic Center building, accessible from all sides. The location is easy to reach on foot and offers plenty of space to walk around it.

The structure is built from 38,000 hollow brass-colored J-shaped pipes connected together, creating a visual representation of a nuclear blast's aftermath. This specific construction method gives the large work a surprisingly delicate appearance.

Location: Santa Monica

Inception: 1991

Creator: Paul Conrad

Height: 8 m

Made from material: copper, stainless steel

GPS coordinates: 34.00980,-118.49000

Latest update: December 11, 2025 11:02