Marguerite Elliot created this installation piece in 1982 during the Reagan administration to protest a statement by Undersecretary of Defense, T. K. Jones, that all that was needed to survive a nuclear war were enough shovels to go around. She was inspired by Paul Conrad's political cartoon depicting a shovel graveyard. It was designed to bring awareness to the lunacy of surviving a nuclear war.

She invited the Sisters of Survival (Jerri Allyn, Nancy Angelo, Anne Gauldin, Cheri Gaulke, Sue Maberry) to collaborate on a performance with the installation. The installation and interactive performances took place at highly visible public sites including Los Angeles City Hall, the Federal Building, and college campuses.

Local and national television, radio, and newspaper coverage was extensive.