As I was heading to Office Works in the city, I discovered this signal box painted in bright floral colours representing Queensland architecture and the square behind it.
I took a quick snap because I’ve been thinking about starting a signal box database (nerd alert!) but when I looked up the artist I found she’s painted a number of signal boxes and even had work displayed on a CityCat.
I have loved architecture of all sorts since I was a child. Born and bred in Port Macquarie, NSW, I used to love driving north for family holidays and upon reaching the Clarence River region; there was a distinct shift in the style of domestic architecture. Perhaps because it marked the arrival at the holiday destination, or simply an innate love of these timber and tin houses, I become a Queenslander fan. As a response to existing on floodplains, these houses sat high and proud on strange timber stilts and were embraced by the surrounding sugarcane fields.
Then, when I moved to Brisbane in 1992, the romance of latticed verandahs shaded by mango and palm trees was an utter delight. I was totally besotted with their beautiful decorative features, history and adaptation to the hot and humid climate.
Interview With Debra Hilda Hood
I love her Queensland themes, densely packed elements and beautiful colours. You can check out more of her work over at debrahoodart.com.au.
