Focus on this artwork and explain the Proposal.
Conrad expressed interest in building the sculpture in either Beverly Hills or Santa Monica.  In 1988, he created a two-foot model of the sculpture and proposed his work to the Santa Monica Art Commission.  Santa Monica debated the proposal for the next four years.  While Santa Monica considered the proposal, Conrad proposed the sculpture to the Beverly Hills Fine Arts Committee in early 1989.  The committee, appointed by the Beverly Hills City Council, deliberated Conrad's proposed sculpture for three months.  During that time, Conrad was attacked as an antisemite by several residents of Beverly Hills because of his recent editorial cartoons depicting the Israeli–Palestinian conflict during the intifada.  The Beverly Hills committee eventually turned down the proposal for the Chain Reaction sculpture on April 12, 1989, citing the lack of a suitable site in Beverly Hills that could accommodate the structure.  "It is a piece of monumental proportions that needs a very large, large area," committee chairwoman Ellen Byrens told the Los Angeles Times.At the same time in Santa Monica, 730 Santa Monica residents in an informal survey by the Santa Monica Art Commission expressed their recommendation that the city should not accept the sculpture for display, while 392 agreed that it should be installed.  Despite the negative public reaction, the Art Commission voted four separate times to accept the work, with the final vote taking place in 1990.  The City Council finally approved the work in 1991.  Funds were donated to the Santa Monica Arts Foundation to build it and the sculpture was given to the city as a gift.  The city's acceptance of the controversial peace sculpture reflected the progressive history of Santa Monica's councilmembers, who had become a majority in 1981 just after the conservative Reagan administration took office.  At the time of Conrad's proposal, the councilmembers were known for being aligned with progressive issues, including the "anti-war position" reflected in the theme of Conrad's sculpture.
City Council progressive history progressive issues Israeli–Palestinian conflict Reagan administration antisemite Santa Monica anti-war position Beverly Hills intifada