When KDHX Community Media approached Project 13 to design a poster for the 2008 Midwest Mayhem event, we jumped at the opportunity to be involved. Held annually at the City Museum, a self-described "children's playground, funhouse, surrealistic pavilion, and architectural marvel made out of unique, found objects," Midwest Mayhem boasts a unique combination of bands, from pop to blues to zydeco to country, plus face-painting and a variety of sideshow acts, including the Alley Cat Revue, St. Louis' premier burlesque troupe.

As a way to develop a poster that showcased the eclectic nature of the event—tying together music, the Midwest and, well, mayhem—we staged a “typical” Midwestern living room in which a burlesque dancer with an accordion bursts out of thin air, and begins performing in front of the confused homeowners.

Working with photographer Jay Fram, models and make-up from Menagerie Models, and the poster's star, Lola van Ella (head of the Alley Cat Revue), we were able to create one sweet poster. And judging from the event's turnout—about double the previous year's—it looks like audiences agreed.