"Why? Why, Lori, why?", you may be asking yourself.
Well, it just so happens this structure built in 1958 was home to the Academy Awards ceremonies from 1961 to 1968. This, in itself, was a wee surprise she thought. You know, since Santa Monica isn't Hollywood.
On the particularly lovely day in March, 2010, this auditorium was her last stop from a long list of venues to visit that had previously housed Academy Awards ceremonies. The Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, designed by architect Welton Becket (also designer of the Capitol Records Building) in what is generally known as mid-20th century International Style and still available for events of many types, is an impressive sight. Yet it was a surprise monument that stole the show for Lori.
Note in the video that she looked at the tree appearing object (also in the photo) and assumed it was a tree (and, no, the sun was not in her eyes). Only to get closer to find the "tree" is a monument which was erected in 1991. The piece is entitled, "Chain Reaction" and is also known as a peace sculpture.
This peace piece is a work by Paul Conrad, who is a three-time Pulitzer Prize winning political cartoonist. Bronze sculptures are merely a hobby.
The peace piece plaques (yes, there are two) read, "This is a statement of peace. May it never be an epitaph."
To borrow from Alfred Joyce Kilmer's infamous poem, "Trees":
"I think I shall never see a statement of peace lovely as a tree.
Yet, your SoCal gal saw a statement of peace sculpted as a tree. In her opinion it is amazing how the artist was able to fashion chains into something that looks like a tree and almost as lovely.
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