Atoms for Peace

Atoms for Peace is the name of a sculpture that graces the campus of Ventura High School. This commissioned piece was created in 1958 by sculptor Frank Eliscu (1912-1996), whose most well-known work is the sculpture that sits atop college football's Heisman Trophy. Atoms for Peace is a heroic-sized (16') bronze sculpture of a nearly nude man holding the nucleus of an atom in his outstretched hand, with the orbits of electrons encircling his hand. Eclipsing the paths of the electrons is a larger circle, upon which a dove has perched. The orbit paths have long since been bent into a quasi-elliptical shape, but Atoms still stands, a reminder of the aspirations and fears of the Nuclear Age.

"Atoms for Peace" is also a reference to speech by Dwight Eisenhower of the same name.