Governor Jay Nixon and Chef James Coley, co-owner of Aartful Rose Gallery at Rose Bed Inn during Missouri Citizens for the Arts Reception held Sept. 1 at Missouri Botanical Gardens in St. Louis

The Art in the Garden Reception held by Missouri Citizens for the Arts (MCA)at the Missouri Botanical Garden was one of the best evenings of a lifetime, ensconced in an urban Eden with constellations of artists and art lovers sparkled with camaraderie and sated with tasty nibbles and liquid refreshments.

First Lady Georgeanne was beautiful and elegant, accepting her position as Chair of MCA; her speech charming and inspiring--revealing the depth of her genuine character, her husband's remarks likewise engaging and moving. It is my hope their commitment to both the Arts and Tourism--lifeblood to citizens statewide--will be fully realized throughout the course of their service as First Family of Missouri.

Funding for the Arts and Tourism is the lifeblood of rural areas. Quality of life drawn from Arts and Tourism infuse inspiration and courage for challenging times to the constituency, create momentum in the mechanism of economies that fire imaginations and can without question spark a supernova of recovery.