NEW ON THE BUSINESS SCENE: STEV-MARK GOES HIGH-TECH

Searching for art has gone high-tech at Steve Mark West Inc. in Cape Girardeau.

"Our gallery has received a new laser disc system that allows customers to select from as many as 26,000 pieces of art," said Steve Mueller, one of the owners of Stev-Mark Inc., which specializes in paints, wall covering and artwork at two Cape Girardeau sites, Stev-Mark Inc. at 16 N. Spanish and Stev-Mark West at 2125 William.

The new laser disc projects images of artwork on a special television screen. "Customers can see more art in 10 minutes with this system than they could see in years of shopping from gallery to gallery," said Mueller.

Paintings, prints, posters, sculptures and animation art is available by artist, title, subject and color.

"The system will certainly change the way people shop for art," said Mueller, "and when an artwork has been selected, it can be special-ordered and available within a few days."

Stev-Mark is an authorized dealer for Art Information Inc., a nationwide art dealer association that has 26,000 limited edition prints listed for sale.

The Muellers -- brothers Steve and Mark -- have operated the business since 1972, when they purchased it from their father, Val Mueller, who had established the business as a paint store in 1952 at 16 N. Spanish. The Town Plaza site was added in 1982 and expanded in 1994.