Alcheringa Gallery

Representing artists from a wide variety of indigenous peoples throughout the Commonwealth and beyond, Alcheringa are interesting for their wide assortment of art for sale and on display from Native artists throughout the Pacific and the Pacific Rim, from Papua to Sydney to Sitka. Despite the huge distances they span, there’s a sincerity and knowledgeability among the staff that’s reassuring; all too often one finds modern artists and purveyors treating indigenous artists and their work in exploitational and orientalist ways, and while there may be a whiff of that here (it’s hard to avoid), they come off respectful and personally-​involved. They were very able to provide personal insights and commentary from and about the artists behind work from the local First Nations and Northwest Coast communities. As community and tradition lie at the heart of so much work they represent, that’s not only reassuring, it’s necessary.
While high-​end work is available, they also have everything from postcards to original works available at very affordable prices. You could walk out with an original, artist-​made print for under a hundred dollars, even from well-​known and well-​regarded artists.
Beyond all that, it’s a wonderful and humbling place to be, with art which develops a profound sense of identity, outlook, and all-​too-​often pain.