In 1959 Barbara and André Brooke established Christchurch’s first contemporary dealer art gallery at 91 Cashel Street, showing and promoting New Zealand painting, ceramics, drawing, sculpture and textiles.

It positioned New Zealand contemporary art that engaged with Western ideas of modernism as a desirable, exciting and important part of local culture. They showed June Black, Helen Brown, John Coley, Louise Henderson, Colin McCahon, Milan Mrkusich, Olivia Spencer Bower and Toss Woollaston, among other artists.

The Brookes cultivated a sophisticated, social atmosphere at Gallery 91, serving freshly percolated European coffee, and were open late into the evenings. Through examination, remaking, and re-presentation of archival material, ephemera and testimonies, Auckland-based artist Holderness and Timaru-based art historian Fishburn offer a consideration of the legacy of Gallery 91.