Interview by Glen OBrian ABC Radio out and about person about a portrait titled View point Jack 2006

Goanna Hill Gallery

On arrival at Goanna Hill Gallery, Im struck by the diversity of the art on display.    Various Painted works adorn the display

areas, hung on the walls and leaning on the walls are landscapes, portraits, Riverscapes, paintings of flora and forna such

a diversity of work.    Im greeted by Steve Everingham, who is the resident artist, he owns and runs the gallery.    I ask him

how many artists currently have their work on display.    His reply was surprising.

Just me Steve say,

The Gallery, itself is an open space room the size of a basketball court built out of red brick internally and solid random

lime stone outside, two busts greet you at the entry one of Steves wife and the other himself.    The internal walls are

covered by paintings of various sizes and subject matter.    Steve incorporates his studio in the gallery partitioned off with

wall dividers.    Steves wife Heather has her office in the galley in a corner and work as a local historian with a focus on

My work is nature based, I get ideas of design composition, and subject matter from the local community and environment,

this section of the Murray is a painters paradise with the magnificent landscape and mighty red gums not to mention the

diversity of wildlife that frequents this area, and the characters of the community are unbelievably inspirational.

 

a goanna, carrying to its nest.    Steve was inspired to paint this after a trip to Chowilla Station, which is frequented by the

wedge tailed eagle and the Sturt desert pea.

The unique portrait View Point Jack, executed in oils Steve painted from life, Jack Seekamp now deceased  who grew up and retired

in this area he was a senior school teacher for years.    Jack or better known as Salty Jack was a great advocate for the

environmental issues which was the fuel he loved to run on.    He had many ideas about how a better balance could

be met to manage the river system.    He was advocating for the dying river long before the problems became permanent.    

The Painting captures Jack in full swing voicing these issues he was a man who had a lot to say and who had a great passion

for the environment and good ideas of management of the Murray River , always advocating for a better balance between dryland farming ,

horticulture and the natural environment.

Steve is an artist plugged into the environment and community, his pictorial statements; ideas can be viewed through the

images he depicts on canvas and paper.    He is an extremely creative person working in a range of mediums mainly oil and

water paintings.

The original name of the Gallery Goanna Hill came about because of a visit from a five foot goanna that appeared in the