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j o u r n a l

March 2006 • the pterodactyl falls   A marvelous Pterodactyl sitting atop a massive rock rising more than 40 feet out of the Pacific Ocean off Sunset Cliffs Boulevard in San Diego—known previously to locals as Birdshit Rock, and long the site of occasional guerilla art installations—is destroyed in the winter storms.

April 2006 • peace rockers   A group of friends—the original Peace Rockers—decide to mount an assault on the Rock to clean it of what had, by now, become a public eyesore. Once engaged in that challenge, they consider placing their own artwork on the site. Many ideas are suggested, some elementary, some ambitious, some whimsical, some serious; but the group settles on a universal Peace sign, and commission a famous local artist to contemplate design options.

May 2006 • the sign   A beautiful stained glass design is selected, the artwork is completed, and the Peace Rockers search for professional rock climbers and engineers to assist them in their Quest.

Friday, May 26, 2006 • ready to rock   At midnight, the team of climbers and engineers climb the rock for the first time to survey and prepare the mounting site. The site is cleaned of debris.

Saturday, May 28, 2006 • ob gets rocked   The same assault team climbs the rock at about 2:00 a.m., and spends about two hours carefully and safely mounting the 60-pound stained glass Peace sculpture atop the Rock. They get off the Rock just as dawn is breaking, and the first passer-by rubs his eyes, looks at the climbers, looks at the Peace Sign, looks at the climbers, looks at the Peace sign, and gives us all Two Thumbs Up. The Peace Rockers reconnoiter at a local doughnut shop for coffee and High Fives.

Sunday, Memorial Day, May 29, 2006 • the debut   The first reaction appears to be one of awe and inspiration. All day people stop for pictures, to reflect, and to consider how, exactly, the feat had been accomplished. The Peace Rockers await the remaining surprise that only they know: the Peace sign is wired with hundreds of LED lights in the back, connected to a solar energy panel and sophisticated electronics that will, with luck, light the sign every night at 9:00 p.m. for one hour.

Sunday, Memorial Day, May 29, 2006, 9:00 p.m. • let there be light   At two minutes after 9:00, on a dark, moonless night, the Peace sign magically LIGHTS UP, a stunning beacon of Peace seemingly suspended in the air, 40 feet off shore. All passers-by stop to admire the spectacle, and all cars slow or stop to check it out. The sign stays lit for precisely an hour, and then POOF, the lights go out and there is total darkness. Regrettably, as spectacular as the demonstration was, the location proves to be unsafe at night for walkers near the sheer cliff, and the Peace Rockers decide to scale the rock one more time, this time to disconnect the solar power source, thereby conceding that this particular sign will light no more. If you are one of the 100 or so who saw it, lucky you.

January 2007 • spreading the peace   The local reception to Peace Rock appears so overwhelmingly positive that the Peace Rockers commit to a second installation, hoping to find a suitable location in Central or Northern California. The artist is commissioned for a second Peace sign, and the decision is made to make it essentially identical in size and basic design to the first sign, except to give it its own distinct color scheme.

February 2007 • the next installation is in the works   The Peace Rockers make contact with a long-time Local and experienced surfer and rock climber in Santa Cruz, a liberal-minded college town on the coast about 90 minutes south of San Francisco, and begin searching in earnest for a rock that meets all essential criteria, including providing a place for safe viewing during both day and night.

March 2007 • santa cruz   A rock is selected in Santa Cruz, and a handful of local surfers and beach leaders are consulted, to pay respects, and to inquire about the appropriateness of the location. Plans are put into place for an April installation.

Easter Eve, Saturday, April 7, 2007 • waves of peace   A group from Ocean Beach travel to meet with their compadre Peace Rockers in Santa Cruz and mount another Midnight assault on the Chosen Rock. The second Peace Rock is installed and secured with special care for the harsh wind and wave conditions of the site.