Inspired by statue, ready to donate for new one

In high school we were assigned to read “Don Quixote.” The paperback version of the book had a cartoon style image of Quixote on its cover that was surprisingly similar to Dennis Patton’s beautiful sculpture near Larkspur Landing.

I remember when the sculpture went up, but I don’t recall reading about the installation, so in my mind, it was always Quixote and it gave me pleasure and pride each of the hundreds of times I drove or biked past it. I stopped and admired the sculpture up close many times.

Now we know it may be

Sir Francis Drake. He is accused of having ties to the slave trade. It doesn’t make the sculpture any less inspiring to me.

Here’s my idea: rather than demolish a beautiful work of public art, let’s add another sculpture nearby, inspired by a more fashionable public sentiment.

Here’s my pledge: if Larkspur approves a new sculpture of similar durability and scale, I will donate $1,000 toward its creation.

— J. Patrick Burke, San Rafael