It's a post-modern moment at the dawn of modernity. The self-proclaimed knight errant, mistakes windmills, symbols of an impending industrial revolution for giants- mythic creatures of a medieval imagination.

Several hundred years later, the world's first telecommunication system is invented in France. The optical telegraph, built like headless mechanized people with gesticulating arms, resembled the Goliaths of Quixote's delusions much more than windmills. The semaphore line, as it was also called, ushered in the new age of telecommunication.

It seemed appropriate to use these symbols to explore language, its spaces and its relation to meaning in the infancy of the new "information revolution."

In 1987, artist Leandro Katz created "27 windmills", an homage to Cervantes and Borges, consisting of 27 images of windmills that represent the letters of the Spanish alphabet. At the time, I was Leandro's studio assistant and put together the piece into an artist book.

My recent discovery of the Chappe brother's semaphore line, triggered memories of Leandro's earlier piece.

Mostly adults, but kids with an interest in mechanics and communication systems should find the piece compelling.

wood, metal, motors.