“open | unleashed” juried by Darren Ching | GalleryTalk
The open | unleashed exhibition, juried by Darren Ching, was in the online gallery from August 29 to October 9, 2025. The jurors selected forty images from thirty three artist for the exhibition. Laurie Peek’s For Austin received the Juror’s Award. Peggy Reynolds image Parallel Universes received the Director’s Award.
Juror’s Statement
Unleashed an open call by the A Smith Gallery—an open the gates, no holds-barred-call to unleash the creative instincts to show the unexpected, challenging the norms photography, challenge the viewers visual comfort zones, run with an inspiration, and rein it all in with exceptional photographic technique, execution and authorship.
Photography’s roots in the 19th century were innately utilitarian, initially a tool for documentation, rather than for artistic expression—early examples being the medical daguerreotype by Southworth & Hawes; rogues’ galleries used by law enforcement; Eadweard Muybridge’s motion studies or the botanical cyanotypes by Anna Atkins. Much photography operates within the parameters of either commercial, documentary, or editorial objectives—in addition to the technical limitations of the medium. The sense of experimentation and artistic expression in Unleashed appreciated more when seeing the counterpoint of photographic history in the rearview mirror.
Standout photographs included a portrait entitled Transpinay in front of a Funeral Wreath // Fatalism by Bienyl Huelgas. Anchored by the subject of Transgender Filipinas, the directness of the subject’s piercing gaze leaves the viewer not knowing it’s defiance, vulnerability, or sadness; while the handwriting around the image amplifies the humanness of the artist’s voice. The historical context of this photograph is difficult to ignore, given the current stripping away of trans rights, and villainization of diversity in the United States.
Another piece of note captures the viewer’s imagination through an inventive use of presentation and form—a multi-exposure, abstract cyanotype with brushstrokes in black and gold referencing East Asian calligraphy, the thick paper with rough torn edges, vertically hung in the manner of a scroll. In FC Scroll 1 by Lisa Tang Liu, the different components come together as a well considered expression of cultural identity and the hand of the artist.
For my Juror’s Pick I selected a dynamic composite of angiosperms—a cacophony of twigs, petals and leaves, in grays with accents of soft blue hues. For Austin by Laurie Peek is a playful romp, visually weaving the viewer through flower symbology, affording glances of recognition within the textural richness. The photograph flirts with the space that separates abstract and representational photography. Exceptional craftsmanship and authorship evident in this flower-centric homage.
Darren Ching
September, 2025