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 over 100 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.
The UnBound! exhibition is now primarily submission-based with only a small selection of invited artists represented. UnBound! aims to present a survey of what photography looks like in the moment, exhibiting 40+ strong works representing a range of concepts, personal and professional backgrounds, and applications of the photographic medium.
2023 UNBOUND!
ACQUISITIONS
Alyssa Minahan, an end and a beginning, 2022 Soft Cover Artist’s Book, Pur Perfect Binding with French Folding, Transparent Slipcase, 10.5 x 8 inches, 66 pages, Edition of 100
Rachel Elise Thomas, Proud of You, 2022 Archival Pigment Print, 20 x 16 inches, Edition of 2
Rob Tarbell, Imbroglio_1 Brad, 2021 Smoke & Silver Mirroring Verso on Glass, Vinyl, Copper, Brass, Wood; 24 x 18 inches, Unique
Elizabeth Clark Libert, By The Bougainvillea, 2022 Archival Pigment Print, 40 x 30 inches, Edition of 3
Frank Hamrick & Paul Wolfe, Traffic Cone, 2023 Tintype on Orange Enameled, Aluminum, 8 x 8 inches, Edition of 1
Granville Carroll, Dark Matter, 2022 Coil Bound Book with Screen Printed Soft Matte Covers, Digital Offset, Black Paper, Black Ink, and Silver Ink, 9 x 6 inches, 148 pages, Edition of 150
Shane McFadden, The Man Who Lives on my Desk, 2023 Archival Pigment Print, 22 x 17 inches, Open Edition
Eben Ostby, De Soto Firesweep, 2023 Selenium Toned Argyrotype, 12 x 14 inches, Edition of 3 + 1AP
Isabella La Rocca González, Para mis campañoles, 2023 from the series Ofrendas, Archival Pigment Print and Watercolor on Hotpress Cotton Paper, 11 x 15 inches, Edition of 1
Dana Fritz, Re: forest, 2022 Digitally Printed, Coil Bound Book with Tri-fold Cover and Insert, 6 x 5 inches, Closed, Edition of 50
Austin Cullen, Floating Biomes, 2022 Archival Inkjet Print, 24 x 18 inches, Edition of 15
Heather Beardsley, Strange Plants, Virginia Beach, 2022 Mixed Media, 8 x 10 inches, Unique
Richard Francisco Howard, DÍGAME #2, 2022 Inkjet Print Tri-Color Image Composed of 3 B&W Negatives, 30 x 24 inches, Edition of 8 + 2AP
THE OPEN CALL
There is no theme to the UnBound! exhibition. We treat each year like a survey, encouraging a range of perspectives, concepts, and applications of the photographic medium. UnBound! has seen the likes of digital prints, darkroom work, alternative processes, mixed media, and sculptural interpretations of photography.
Looking for inspiration? To take a look at what has gone into the permanent collection, click here. To see last year’s UnBound! works, click here.
The majority of the works included in the UnBound! exhibition are selected from the open call submission. In addition, each year we invite a small number of artists to participate. We look for notable artists who are farther along in their photographic careers or bring something distinct to the selection. This results in a range of works from artists in different moments of their careers, and gives an extra boost to an emerging artist's CV.
We encourage anyone from hobbyists, teachers, and seasoned professionals to submit. As long as the work is photographic in origin, it is welcome!
THERE IS NO FEE TO SUBMIT TO UNBOUND!
We work hard to keep fees off of the submission process. Our hope is that photographers will choose to support our UnBound! exhibition with their active participation, just as we hope to support their work and careers in return.
UNBOUND13! SUBMISSIONS
ARE CLOSED.
THE EXHIBITION
This annual summer group exhibition is the only open call we hold each year and is dedicated to featuring a wide range of photographic artworks, fine art photography, and artists’ books from 40-50 fine art photographers. UnBound! generates opportunities and exposure beyond the traditional group or juried show by providing a collection opportunity for artists. In addition to standard commercial collection opportunities, participating UnBound! artists have the chance to be acquired for the growing Candela Collection, which will one day be donated to an institution able to house and share it with students and enthusiasts of photography.
Our hope is that photographers will support our UnBound! exhibition with their active participation just as we hope to support their work and careers in return. All accepted artists will have their artwork featured at Candela Gallery, a gallery space in the downtown arts district of Richmond, Virginia.
THE COLLECTION
The mission of the Candela Collection is to support photographers through the purchase of original photographic work and to actively pursue opportunities to donate said works to a notable permanent collection. The Candela Collection currently includes photographic artworks and fine art photography books.
Louviere + Vanessa, Chloroform, Valde, 2006 Inkjet on Gampi Paper, Wax & Blood, Edition 1 15, 2012 UnBound Acquisition
Athena Petra Tasiopoulos, Wrap, 2014 Mixed Media on Photo Rag Print, 7 x 5.5 inches, 2014 UnBound Acquisition
Sara J. Winston, A Lick and A Promise, Edition of 50, Published by Candor Arts in September 2017, 2018 UnBound Acquisition
Katie Edwards, Voice-O-Graph of God, 2012 Digital Pigment Print on Hahnemuhle Paper, 6 x 6 inches, 2014 UnBound Acquisition
Kabul & Loster, Childhood, Balinese “Keliki” Miniature Watercolor Painting w/ Chinese Ink + Cyanotype Print, 5 x 8 inches, Unique, 2019 UnBound Acquisition
Tony Chirinos, Untitled, 2004 Gelatin Silver Print, 16 x 20 inches, 2012 UnBound Acquisition
Lissa Rivera, Object of Desire, 2015 Archival Pigment Print, 30 x 20 inches, 2018 UnBound Acquisition
Rachel Phillips, Dendromancy: Divination by Trees, Version 1, 2013 Unique Varnished Transfer Print to Antique Cabinet Card with Albumen Portrait, 6.5 x 4.25 inches, 2013 UnBound Acquisition
Susan Burnstine ,The Last Goodbye, 2010 Archival Pigment Print, Hand Varnished, 16 x 16 inches, Edition 9 of 15, 2012 UnBound Acquisition
Priya Kambli, Dada Aajooba and Dadi Aaji, 2012 Archival Inkjet Print, 8 x 8 inches, 2014 UnBound Acquisition
Raymond Thompson Jr, Elissa 2017,Archival Pigment Print, 24 x 30 inches, 2019 UnBound Acquisition
SUPPORT UNBOUND!
Purchase Individual Works
Like most of our gallery exhibitions throughout the year, all works, including books, featured in UnBound! are available for direct purchase. All work is split 50/50 (40/60 for books) between the gallery and the artist, directly funding their practice while supporting Candela gallery’s operations.
Fund the Collection
There are ways to support UnBound! without directly purchasing a piece. Throughout the course of the exhibition, you can give directly or purchase merchandise. 100% of proceeds raised from the UnBound! shop will go towards acquisitions and maintenance for the Collection.
Attend the Gala
During the UnBound! exhibition, Candela Gallery hosts a gala event to celebrate the exhibition’s featured artists and to raise funds for the Collection. This party often includes live music, unique entertainers, delicious finger foods, and exciting activities. All proceeds from party go directly toward funding the Collection.
HOW UNBOUND! + CANDELA COLLECTION FUNDS ARE USED:
BUILDING THE COLLECTION
Because the gallery does not take our typical 50% cut when buying UnBound! work for the Candela Collection, the money raised for the Collection has twice the buying power. The artist is paid for their normal 50%, and the rest of the cost goes towards the purchase of more Collection acquisitions. Our collection has grown to house over 100 pieces, including framed works, sculptural pieces, and photographic artist books.
STORAGE AND CONSERVATION
Despite the majority of UnBound! excitement being experienced from April to July, Candela Gallery lives with the growing collection 24/7/365. Remaining funds in the pool allow us to properly store, frame, and protect the 100+ unique pieces when they aren’t on display.
ARTIST REIMBURSEMENTS
Any money left in the fund allows us to reimburse or cover certain costs associated with shipping, repair, and lodging for artists sending work or staying in town to experience the show in person.
WHAT COULD WE DO WITH ADDITIONAL FUNDING?
TRAVEL + LOANING OUT
We would love the opportunity to loan this collection out to other institutions before it finds its final home. Additional funding could allow us to travel with these works.
HONORARIUMS + GRANTS
In the spirit of supporting artists’ careers, we hope to be able to offer small monetary gifts for certain participating artists to supplement costs associated with printing, framing, shipping, and travel.
COLLECTION LIBRARY
A goal of ours is to begin collecting reference and auxiliary materials from collected artists in order to build up a library to accompany the visual collection. Additional funding could allow us to purchase more limited supporting work and publications, or cover storage, display, and travel of the library.
WHERE AND WHEN WILL
THE COLLECTION BE DONATED?
We continually discuss the purpose of the work and who we want to interact with it most. We talk about the possibility of donating it all to one institution, breaking it into pieces and spreading the love, and giving the whole body away and starting anew with shorter donation turnarounds in the future. Is “an institution” the best place? Would anywhere other than an institution have the resources to maintain the work? We don’t take the responsibility lightly, and we are really looking forward to bringing more big ideas to the table!
Want to support the UnBound! mission?
You are always welcome to contribute to the fund. 100% of the profits from your purchase or gift helps us continue to store, maintain, and conserve current work while funding opportunities for UnBound! artists.