Cheek to Cheek:
the return of the Small Print Bingo & Print Exchange at Candela
Submit your images through November 17 for the chance to participate in our 2027 Valentine’s bingo exhibition.
OPENS JANUARY 8, 2027 • BINGO DAY FEBRUARY 13
Help us kick off 2027 programming with the return of Bingo at Candela! This time, we’re looking to our favorite commodified February holiday for the open call prompt.
Cheek to Cheek explores playful intimacy in a divided social landscape, weaving perceptions of tender connection with reimagined interpretations of the nude behind. The call considers objects, acts, gazes, and gestures of affection that butt up against traditional photographic depictions of romantic love and idolized bodies through experimental concepts or processes .
The Bingo exhibition is unique in that it functions as an exhibition, a fundraiser for Candela Photographic Arts’ operations as a 501(c)3, and a print exchange for participating artists. Selected artists mail in two editions of their printed image. Candela provides a small, standard sized frame (and mat if needed) for prints on view in the Bingo exhibition. The framed works are treated as a donation and will go home with lucky winners on the exhibition’s closing Bingo Day.
The second edition of the image is entered into a print exchange with other participating artists and is mailed out at the end of the exhibition.
The November Call: Prompts for your consideration
Take a peek at images from Candela’s past to inspire your submission. You can also view past exhibitions here.
On love: send us your photographs depicting familial, romantic, and platonic love through physical touch, tender portraiture, or sentimental objects. What does love look like from your angle? We encourage unconventional perspectives and alternative processes!
On bums: In the spirit of the traditional, romanticized photographic nude, send us your favorite bottoms*. Stretch the imagination from concept to form. We welcome derrieres of all shapes and intentions: poetic, dramatic, funny, covered, bare…
* BUT(T): a small butt disclaimer: we ask that you keep your butts thoughtful, playful, and/or conceptual. Candela isn’t interested in nude imagery that feels exploitative or needlessly vulgar.
How Bingo works:
Participating Bingo artists will send Candela two prints:
This print is considered a donation to Candela. It will be framed by staff and put on view alongside our Jan/Feb solo exhibitions to generate excitement for our February Bingo event. On February 13, Candela will hold a ticketed Small Print Bingo event, where partygoers can win one framed work for each round of Bingo.
This print will be entered into a randomized print exchange among the participating Bingo artists. Bingo artists will receive their new print in the mail!
Submit your images for consideration in On Love and Butts:
• We are looking for small works, under 12 inches on the longest side.
• Each image must be available in at least 2 editions.
• Accepted artists will be responsible for shipping their two prints to the gallery by the posted deadline.
Artists are welcome to work from one-off projects, proofs, or works-in-progress in addition to current bodies of work. We encourage alternative processes, tiny prints, variant editions, and anything that brings excitement and variety to these small bingo works!
ABOUT THE SUBMISSION
Submission opens: Monday, November 2, 2026
Submission closes: Tuesday, November 17, 2026
Accepted works announced: Tuesday, December 1, 2026
THERE IS NO FEE TO SUBMIT TO THE 2026 BINGO SHOW.
Requirements:
Each submitted print must have at least two available editions for consideration (variant editions are accepted).
One print will be contributed to our small print bingo fundraising event*
One print will be entered into the randomized Bingo artist print exchange.
Each submitted print must be no larger than 12 inches on its longest side
Each artist will be responsible for shipping their two prints to Candela by Tuesday, December 15, 2026.
*Prints on view will be treated as an “in kind” donation to Candela Photographic Arts.
Submissions should include:
1-3 jpegs for consideration
Artist name and contact information
Artwork title, year, medium, and dimensions
Artwork edition information
A short artist statement or bio relevant to submitted work
EXHIBITION DATES
Print Delivery Deadline: Tuesday, December 15, 2026
Exhibition Opens: Friday, January 8
Small Print Bingo Event: Saturday, February 13, 2027
ABOUT THE EVENT:
October Bingo was a blast, and we’ve made a few updates for optimal fun:
This time, we’re going to break the day up into two 7-round sets. Come for Love Bingo from 1-3, come for Butts Bingo from 4-6, or come for both!
Doors will open for our first set at 12pm so you can peruse our current exhibitions, grab your snacks, and grab a seat.
There will be a short intermission in the middle of each set, and we’ll be taking a break between 3-4pm. We will have some special themed amusements during the 3-4 hour, and the Tender Boys will be in-house again serving amorous concessions.
All bingo players receive one card (3 plays) per round plus use of a dauber, and unlimited visits to the free refreshments table:
$30 Gets you 7 rounds of Bingo,
$50 Gets you 14 rounds of Bingo
Plus new table options! Stay tuned for our official February Bingo event announcement.
