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Graffiti-inspired murals pop up downtown ahead of NBA All-Star Weekend

The goal is to create something memorable for the thousands of people who will walk through the underpasses at Delaware and Pennsylvania streets.

INDIANAPOLIS — NBA All-Star Weekend is quickly approaching, and new artwork is popping up in downtown Indianapolis to highlight the excitement.

Local artists have been working for days to finish the job before All-Star Weekend.

The goal is to create something memorable for the thousands of people who will walk through the underpasses at Delaware and Pennsylvania streets heading to the weekend festivities near Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Each mural design is unique to each of the local artists who created it. Koda Witsken said she was inspired by the movie "Space Jam."

"Behind me, I'm doing a personal take on that,” Witsken said. “Turning my dogs into Monstars from the movie.”

Dave Too went with a simpler design, tagging his initials.

"It's considered like a quick throwie — you spray the field colors first, then you just outline it," Dave Too said.

Credit: WTHR

More than a dozen graffiti artists were chosen to take on the task.

"These streets are going to get a lot of traffic and seen by the world,” said Mike Graves, who helped recruit the artists. “(The Arts Council) wanted something different, so they came to us.”

Credit: WTHR

It's visibility and creativity that the city hopes to continue to highlight in underpasses and other locations.

"It was started by the All-Star Game, but it's not just because of the All-Star Game," Graves said.

Credit: WTHR

The project was made possible through a partnership between the Indy Arts Council, local artists and the city.

If you're looking to get the most out of the All-Star Weekend, here is the schedule of events.

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