Young model has mixed feelings about sculpture

BRONZE BOY: Sculptor Mark Whyte with four-year-old Sailor Kiddey, the model for the statue. PHOTO/WARREN BUCKLAND

Napier's bronze Art Deco lady who has been "walking" her pet dog 'Raven' in Emerson St since 2010 now has someone to wave to - and the little someone is happily waving back.

The original statue of Sheila Williams, who led the New Napier Week Carnival parade in 1933 to celebrate the city's recovery from the earthquake, was created by Lyttelton sculptor Mark Whyte and has become a focal point for locals and visitors to admire. Now the second stage of what is likely to end up being a three-stage "story" in sculpture has been officially opened by Napier Mayor Bill Dalton and former Mayor Barbara Arnott who sparked the original sculpture, and who also came up with the idea that the walking lady should be waving at someone - and a little boy scrambling up a pole seemed the perfect answer.

She paid tribute to the new council for getting behind the idea. Present for the official unveiling was Mr Whyte along with Christchurch woman Holly Greenslade and her four-year-old little boy Sailor Kiddey - the model for the sculpture.

"He was very good - he sat there and we took all the measurements and photos and we held him posing up a pole for about 30 minutes while we took pictures and he was happy with it all," Ms Greenslade said. However, the youngster's initial response to "being a statue" was typical of a little boy who had seen plenty of real sculptures.

As Mr Whyte explained - "he wasn't happy at first because he thought he'd have to stay up there for a very long time".

Ms Greenslade, who is a long-standing family friend of Mr Whyte, said she was delighted to see her little man captured in bronze. "I said to him one day you will be able to bring your grandchildren here to see you - and that is so special."

Mr Whyte said it took about four months to create the statue in clay and then have it made into a mould and then cast in bronze by specialists Progressive Casting in Auckland.

He may have another little project lined up in the future which he said sounded challenging.

"A bicycle?" he mused.

As Mrs Arnott pointed out, she always wanted to complete the third part of the little main street Art Deco story, and Mr Dalton said he saw no reason "if they're willing" for it not to happen.

Part three will be at the lower end of Emerson St and will be a "chap" on an old bicycle, his coats tails flapping in the wind behind him, cycling up to meet the walking lady, her dog and her little boy up the pole.

And the likely model?

"Oh that would have to be Bertie," she said.