Downtown Des Moines viaduct gets new mural

A local artist and DMPS principal is painting a new mural on the Southwest 9th viaduct after the city painted over a "creepy" mural depicting Jack Nicholson's character from "The Shining."

Flashback: The city covered the former mural last year after it was painted without permission.

• Both the artist and its date remain unknown.

Driving the news: The Shop, a nearby event center that took over the former Des Moines Social Club space, commissioned local artist and Moulton Elementary principal Eddie McCulley to paint a new piece.

• McCulley is creating a colorful, kaleidoscope-like mural similar to a mandala, he tells Axios. He wanted to create a bright burst of color to brighten the area.
• He's painted multiple murals at his school as well.

What's next: The work isn't finished yet and he plans to paint the bridge's upper wings.

• "It's really kind of a zen kind of moment for me, too," he says. "So, I'm not rushing it."