EXHIBITION:UNBOUND12!
UNBOUND12!
The selected and invited artists for UnBound12! will have works on display at Candela Gallery
from Friday, July 7 - Saturday, August 12, 2023.
WILL CONNALLY
We are so excited to be hosting our twelfth year of this exhibition, and for the huge list of artists participating this year. We tightened up our submission process a bit this year, and we think that led to a lot of really thoughtful submissions. It made it tough to narrow down to this list, so a giant thank you and congratulations are due to all of the wonderful artists who took the time to share their work. Because submitting is free, we know that it can occasionally be clunky. We appreciate the time and patience artists give us as we continue to streamline the submission process while keeping it accessible to all.
ELIZABETH LIBERT
JOOEUN BAE
RILEY GOODMAN
TWELVE YEARS OF UNBOUND!
In the summer of 2012, Candela Books + Gallery founder Gordon Stettinius launched UnBound! as an invitational exhibition to build community and support artists. From the beginning, UnBound! has celebrated photography as both a medium and a source of community. We have always offered a free submission for the open call in an effort to make the process accessible to photographic artists in all levels of their careers.
A majority of the exhibition’s participants come from the jurying of 400-600 open call submissions; in addition, each year we invite up to 5 artists whose work elevates the conversation and notoriety around the exhibition for all participating artists.
ISABELLA LA ROCCA GONZÁLES
AN INTRODUCTION TO COLLECTING
All pieces in the exhibition are available for purchase. A broad range of affordable price points, sizes, and processes make this annual exhibition great for collectors at any stage. Seasoned collectors can become familiar with new artists, and newer collectors can find a unique, affordable piece to begin their photographic collection. For those who aren’t yet ready to collect, they can still support the exhibition’s artists through giving to the UnBound! Fund (keep scrolling to learn more!).
A PERMANENT COLLECTION OPPORTUNITY
One of the most unique and important things we do in this exhibition is raise money to purchase works for a growing collection, which will one day be donated to the permanent collection of a notable photographic or academic institution. The Candela Collection has existed since the first UnBound! exhibition, and currently houses 107 photographic works and artist books. This means that over the course of the past 11 years, UnBound! has supported around 100 artists through the acquisition of their works.
Over the course of the exhibition, we raise money for the UnBound! Fund through special events and merchandise sales. At the culmination of the exhibition, we use these funds to acquire select UnBound! works for the Candela Collection. Funds for the collection have twice the buying power, since we do not take our typical cut from the sale of the artwork, increasing our impact.
NANCY A NICHOLS
SUPPORTING ALL ARTISTS
We love that we’ve been able to support so many artists through Candela Collection acquisitions. This year, we want to extend the love to all of the participating artists, using a portion of the proceeds to cover expenses regarding shipping, presentation, and travel as needed.
This exhibition supports photographers through exposure, but most importantly through collecting. If you purchase a piece, you are adding to your personal collection; if you give to the UnBound! Fund, you are allowing an artist to be acquired for a permanent collection, or helping to cover exhibition expenses. However you choose to engage, your funds go directly towards supporting an artist in the exhibition.
To celebrate TWELVE YEARS OF UNBOUND!, our goal this year will be to raise $12000 to support participating artists.
A DOZEN...THOUSAND.
Want to pay it forward? For friends and artists who’ve previously felt the UnBound! love, we encourage you to contribute to this year’s UnBound! Fund. Help artists make money and go into permanent collections!
HEATHER BEARDSLEY
EBEN OSTBY
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
THURSDAY, JULY 6TH, 2023 | 6pm - 8pm
Join us for a ticketed UnBound12! Preview + Bingo Night to get a sneak peek at the show and help kick off our fundraising efforts for 2023. Seats are limited to 32. Tickets are $35. Play a couple of rounds of Photographic Cliché Bingo, grab a beer, buy some swag, and take a walk around the exhibition before it opens for First Friday.
FRIDAY, JULY 7TH, 2023 | 5pm - 8pm
Our First Friday opening reception will go from 5pm-8pm and is open to the public. Come by and see the works in person!
SATURDAY, AUGUST 5TH, 2023 | 7pm - 11pm
Our annual UnBound! Gala is one of our favorite events of the year. Join us for a fun themed party, meet some of the artists, collect a piece, and help us reach our UnBound! Fund goal for 2023.
*This year, we're offering discounted ticket rates to students! Artists always receive a free ticket.*
Thank you again to all who continue to support and participate in this beloved exhibition. We look forward to seeing you in the space in July! In the meantime, come by and check out current works by Liliana Guzmán and Gary Emrich, and be sure to come see them for their artist talks on the evening of Thursday, June 1st.