Paul Conrad art to be sold to help save one of his sculptures
“Chain Reaction,” a sculpture by the late Paul Conrad, has been an object of contention among officials in Santa Monica for months. The city’s arts commission has recommended the removal of the 26-foot-tall sculpture, citing safety concerns. The artwork is located outdoors near the Civic Center.
To raise money to save the sculpture, Santa Monica Auctions said it will be auctioning off two other Paul Conrad pieces. Organizers said they will donate 100% of the hammer price to the Santa Monica Arts Foundation for the restoration of “Chain Reaction.”
The sculpture’s renovation is expected to cost between $227,372 and $423,172, according to a city report. The money is to come from independent sources.
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The auction is scheduled for noon on Nov. 11 at Bergamot Station in Santa Monica. The Conrad pieces being offered for sale are a bronze sculpture titled “Martin Luther King Free at Last” and a print titled “How Would You Like to Be Introduced...?”
“Chain Reaction” received landmark status from Santa Monica’s Landmarks Commission this past summer. The designation means that efforts to remove Conrad’s sculpture will be reviewed by the commission.
Conrad was an editorial cartoonist for The Times for close to 30 years, winning a Pulitzer Prize for his work. He died in 2010.
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