First mural moving to its new home

Starting next week, the James Parker steamboat mural will once again be a part of the downtown Cape Girardeau landscape when it is repainted onto the side of Mollie's Cafe and Bar.

Parker's mural, which depicts a steamboat on the Mississippi River and a portion of the Port Cape building, is Cape Girardeau's first outdoor mural, painted onto the side of a building at 116 N. Main St. in 1986.

Early this year, the building's new owners, Matthew and Dennis Volnick, said the mural would be removed because of renovations. In response, the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri formed a committee to have the mural repainted on another downtown building.

In April, the committee announced it had found a new home for the mural, on the side of Mollie's at 11. S. Spanish St., and started raising money for the project.

Arts council executive director Rebecca Fulgham said she is "very excited" about the repainting of the mural finally getting underway.

Fulgham said she and Mary Ann Kellerman, the owner of the building that houses Mollie's, are "both really happy that we're finally getting the ball rolling and getting the process started. We're just hoping the weather cooperates."

If the weather does cooperate, preparation work will begin this weekend and painting will begin Tuesday or Wednesday.

The preparation work includes power washing the side of the building and spreading a coat of filler paint to fill in the crevices between the bricks.

Sikeston, Mo., artist Pat Burton is painting the mural. Burton painted the Riverfest mural that went up on the C.P. McGinty Jewelers building on Spanish Street and helped Margaret Randol Dement paint her "Sunrise Over a New Land: Lewis and Clark in Cape Girardeau 1803" mural on the floodwall behind the Red House Interpretive Center in 2003.

The mural will overlook Mollie's Garden, the restaurant's outdoor patio and eating area. From 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, the arts council will hold the Rain or Shine Final Fund Raiser in the garden.

Since April, $3,500 has been raised for the mural project, but the committee needs about $400 more to cover all the costs.

In addition to helping raise money for the mural project, attendees can enjoy wine and food and watch Burton paint the mural.

kalfisi@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182

WANT TO GO?

What: Rain or Shine Final Fund Raiser

Where: Mollie's Cafe and Bar, 11 S. Spanish St.

When: 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday

Info: 334-9233