A Wave In Time
Posted by: 
ex-Vigiles
S 39° 29.429 E 176° 55.002
60H E 492836 N 5628788
A friendly reminder of a by-gone era.
Waymark Code: WM8F11
Location: North Island, New Zealand
Date Posted: 03/23/2010
Views: 13
In February 1931 the town of Napier was ravaged by the disastrous Hawkes Bay earthquake. In addition to the high loss of life, the central business district of the young town was demolished and required complete rebuilding. This re-building was carried out in the Art Deco style current at the time. Today the city is renowned for and actively celebrates its Art Deco heritage.
Continuing the Art Deco theme, the City Council recently commissioned and unveiled its first public Art Deco sculpture. The bronze statue, titled “A Wave in Time”, depicts a woman of the Art Deco era with a greyhound. Images of exuberant women with elegant dogs were a popular theme in the Deco period. The project was funded from bequests.
The sculpture is modelled on Sheila Williams, daughter of architect Ernest Williams, a key figure in the rebuilding of Napier after the 1931 earthquake. Miss Williams led the ‘New Napier Week Carnival’ in January 1933 to celebrate the town’s recovery and the reconstruction of ‘The New Napier’. The dog “Raven” is named after the sculptor Mr Mark Whyte’s own greyhound.
The statue is located in the main street, Emerson Street, at the entrance to Ocean Boulevard. Being on a pedestrian-friendly thoroughfare, the sculpture is an integral part of the streetscape
Name or use 'Unknown' if not known: A Wave In Time.
Figure Type: Combination of two figure types
Artist Name or use 'Unknown' if not known: Mark Whyte
Date created or placed or use 'Unknown' if not known: 12 February 2010
Materials used: Bronze
Location: Pedestrian friendly main shopping precinct.
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