Riot Fest Wants Your Help Paying Loving Tribute John Stamos

By Tankboy in Arts & Entertainment on Apr 26, 2017 3:03PM

Image courtesy Riot Fest

Even the most casual follower of Riot Fest's Twitter feed knows that the festival has long had an obsession with actor and musician John Stamos. In 2013 the festival proved their devotion by featuring a life-sized butter Stamos bust on the grounds that year, and the exhibit was hugely popular. We know. It was almost impossible to get a decent picture of the thing with so many people gawking at it.

Heck, even Stamos himself took note!

Since then Riot Fest has continued to both show their appreciation with Stamos while simultaneously doing their best to get him to perform at the festival. Since he hasn't accepted their invitation to reunite Jesse and the Rippers yet, Riot Fest is making sure the Stamos profile remains high at this year's edition.

They just announced the HAVE MERCY! The John Stamos Art Show, and they're putting out a call for all artists to send in their creative interpretations of all things Stamos. Want to carve Stamos out of Swedish Fish? Go for it. Want to paint him behind the drum kit playing with The Beach Boys. We're all for it, as long as Mike Love isn't in the picture. Want to build an inflatable Stamos that dances like those guys outside car dealerships? Fair game. Do whatever you want to do as long as it pays loving tribute to John Stamos.

Submitted art will be gathered and displayed at an opening gala at Cobra Lounge on July 14, and a panel of judges will evaluate the work and award prizes. The Grand Prize winner will receive two VIP passes to Riot Fest and the DVD box set of Full House; second place will win 2 general admission tickets to Riot Fest, and third place gets one general admission ticket to Riot Fest. Judges will include representatives from The AV Club, Nihilist Arby’s, the Riot Fest Twitter (obviously), and Anna Cerniglia from Johalla Projects.

The art will stay up at Cobra Lounge through July 16. Don't worry, if you miss it there, it will also be featured on the grounds of this year's Riot Fest in Douglas Park from Sept. 15 to 17. After that all art will be auctioned off with the proceeds going to a charity of John Stamos' choice.

Perhaps they can get Stamos himself there to be a special guest judge?

We can only hope you do, John. You'll be welcomed like a conquering hero.

Here are the requirements if you want to submit a piece:

• Deadline for Art Delivery is July 7th, 2017
• Art can be mailed to Riot Fest, 1658 N. Milwaukee Ave #125, Chicago, IL 60647
• Only art submissions 11”x14” and smaller will be accepted
• All packages must be less than 50 lbs and less than 20”x20”
• Art must be delivered framed and/or ready to hang
• All pieces must be labeled with name, title of artwork, media, email address, phone number and an estimated price
• Artwork will NOT be returned. All pieces will be sold at auction, with 100% of the proceeds benefitting the charity of John Stamos’ choice
• If you submit artwork that displays any sexism, racism, homophobia or other discriminatory imagery, it will be promptly ridiculed and not accepted.

Full details are here as well.