Exploring Brighton's Sculpture: 'Don Quixote' and 'Sancho Panza'

Last week on our walking tour of the Brighton Biennial Sculpture Exhibit, we took a look at Sie Sind Hier, a work by Brighton resident and Brighton Biennial mastermind John Sauve.

This week, we’ll take in two sculptures created by Steve Cannaert.

Impressed with his custom steel furniture, Sauve asked Cannaert to create work specifically for the first Brighton Biennial display in 2006.

The resulting sculptures, Don Quixote and Sancho Panza, are based on characters from Miguel de Cervantes’ novel The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha.

In the novel, Don Quixote is the alias of a retired man who, seeking one last adventure, decides to live his last days as a knight. Cannaert’s Don Quixote, which is made from repurposed carbon steel castings, loosely represents a sword and shield.

Cannaert also sculpted Sancho Panza, who is Don Quixote’s neighbor-turned-squire in the novel, using repurposed carbon steel castings. The connection is less direct, but Sancho Panza’s bright blue coat of paint gives it a sense of whimsy that echoes that of the novel.

“Something I picked up from the story of Don Quixote is to not take yourself to seriously,” Cannaert said.

Cannaert, who is a big believer in public art, thinks it’s important for artists and patrons alike to exercise their imaginations.

“(Public art) can bring a community together, and that’s a good thing,” he said. "I don’t think kids spend enough time using their imagination to create, whether it be a sculpture or a fort.

"Our younger generations have the most to gain form public art.”

Don Quixote is located behind at the corner of East North Street and South East Street. The sculpture may be purchased for $2,200.

Sancho Panza is located just off Main Street between Buon Gusto and  in a corridor leading to the . It may be purchased for $1,000.