ANNUAL FUNDRAISING GALA:
UnBound14!
August 2, 2025
7-11pm
It’s that time of year again!
Candela Gallery is hosting its FOURTEENTH Annual UnBound! Fundraising Gala, and you're invited! This year, we’re traveling to a Shakespearean acropolis for A Midsummer Night's Fever Dream, where you can enjoy groovy medieval whimsy and support our incredible community of participating photographers.
We’re especially excited to present a giant clamshell photo op alongside a mystical donkey photographer! Mirror pools of fate! Gifts from the Lady in the Water! A confessional booth with Goddess Diana Camera! Amorous elixirs! An Oud! A papier mache swan!
WHAT IS 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, Candela has hosted a fundraising effort to allow the gallery to purchase a limited number of works from each summer’s show. The resulting Collection has since grown to 122 pieces. The mission of the Candela Collection has been to support photographers through the purchase and collection of original photographic work, while also actively pursuing opportunities to donate said work to notable art institutions.
Candela is proud to have offered a free submission in addition to collection opportunities since the beginning, and is excited to introduce honorariums for our fourteenth year (learn more below). UnBound! aims to present a survey of what photography looks like in the moment, exhibiting 50+ strong works representing a range of concepts, personal and professional backgrounds, and applications of the photographic medium.
ALL PARTY PROFITS DIRECTLY SUPPORT UNBOUND! ARTISTS.
With money we raise during our annual juried exhibition and fundraising gala through door tickets, raffle and game tickets, and contributions, we are able to purchase works for our ever-growing Candela Collection and pay artists directly for their work.
WHAT'S NEW THIS YEAR: This year, we hope to direct a portion of funds raised toward an honorarium for one to two artists to have a 2026 exhibition feature at Candela. Solo and group show opportunities occur organically every year from this exhibition, and we want to more proactively support these artists.
With your help, we can support future exhibitions like:
MEJUNG PARK: STILL LIFE, MOURNING
DANA BELL: STATES OF LEISURE
OHEMAA DIXON: 3436
SHINYA MASUDA: HANAFUDA SHOUZOKU
* This show also operates as a standard commercial exhibition, meaning most works are available for sale. We encourage folks to consider supporting artists directly through acquiring pieces for their personal collections. Whether it is through contributing to the exhibition fund, attending the gala, or purchasing a piece yourself, you can help support the practice of artists in our show.
BIG WAYS TO SUPPORT
AT THE 2025 GALA
Get a table for you and your guests and support this year's artists! Table guests get extra perks and treasures!
THE ROUND TABLE | $850 (4 guests)
• Ten party tickets for activities and raffles
• Unlimited ale visits from the Beverage Cherubs
THE BANQUET | $1500 (6 guests)
• Twenty party tickets for activities and raffles
• Pitcher of love potion for the table
• Unlimited ale visits from the Beverage Cherubs
• Unlimited gifts of fate from the Lady in the Water
• Unlimited visits to Patsy’s Horse Stable and Goddess Diana Camera’s Confessional Booth
THE LAST SUPPER | $2500 (12 guests)
• 25 party tickets for activities and raffles
• Tableside love potion delivery
• Unlimited ale visits from Beverage Cherubs
• Unlimited gifts of fate from the Lady in the Water
• Unlimited visits to Patsy’s Horse Stable and Goddess Diana Camera’s Confessional Booth
..Don't need the frills, but want to spread the love?
THE FAIRY GODPARENT | $1000
• Two door tickets
• Sponsor an honorarium for one UnBound14! artist's 2026 Candela exhibition
BUT WHAT DO I WEAR?
As it is every year, come as you wish: dress it up, keep it cool, and/or get into the theme! Shakespeare's famous medieval comedy includes everything from Grecian heroes to impish fairies, so there are many ways to fit in. If you'd like some inspiration, check out this UnBound14! party mood board.
*As the evening progresses, we'll be opening the floor up for dancing to some groovy tunes. If you like to bust a move, don't forget to wear your dancing shoes!
Ways you can support artists during UnBound!:
Come see the exhibition, invite your friends, and talk about it on the internet.
Purchase a piece for your personal collection and directly support an artist in the exhibition.
Give to the UnBound! Fund so that artists can go into a permanent collection or receive an exhibition honorarium (get paid).
How do I give to the UnBound! Fund?
Buy featured merchandise; the profits will go to the fund
Purchase a ticket or a sponsorship level for the annual gala
Get “party tickets” during the gala so you can participate in games, raffles, and special perks during the festivities.
Give directly through this link on our site.