Artist Rita Angus was born in Hastings and spent part of her childhood in Napier. She left to attend Canterbury College of Art but returned to Hawke’s Bay for visits throughout her life. In 1960 Angus designed a mural for a local school, as a memorial for children killed during the 1931 earthquake. Despite the subject matter, the work has a very positive feeling about it – though ruined buildings are depicted, so is the new town that emerged later. The use of light colours and the central position given to the sun enhances this feeling.

Courtesy of the Rita Angus Estate