Rose Bed Inn owners debut Aartful Rose, an art gallery and banquet hall

Along the west side of an entire block of South Sprigg Street in Cape Girardeau, a transformation has taken place since James Coley's arrival 10 years ago.

The block now holds five historic renovated homes that have been transformed into the award-winning Rose Bed Inn Hospitality Center. This Friday, Coley and his partner, Eldon Nattier, along with staff Delilah Tayloe and Erin Schloss, will open a new facility built from the ground up by its owners. Aartful Rose will feature a combination of an art gallery, conference and banquet hall and wedding venue able to accommodate up to 150 guests.

The opening celebration of Coley and Nattier's latest project will be a new stop for the First Friday shuttle on the monthly ARound Town art gallery tour. Coley said the name Aartful Rose, with two A's, comes from a desire to draw attention to the gallery. He said he knew an odd spelling would intrigue people to ask questions.

Artist Craig Thomas, owner of the Black Door Gallery, will be the first to have work featured in a monthlong showcase inside Aartful Rose. A reception will follow Friday's ribbon cutting with the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce, with music by the Jerry Ford Combo, wines from Durso Hills Vineyards and hors d'oeuvres prepared by Coley, a master gourmet chef. Sculptures by Charleston, Mo., artist Barry Hooper will also be on display on the lawns surrounding the new gallery and banquet hall.

Coley said the idea for the combination venture came to him in an epiphany he had last spring. He said he envisioned the inside of a banquet hall with large and empty white walls, and pondered the art he would need to buy to decorate. Coley said he then realized an opportunity that would help his business and artists who wanted to sell their work.

"For whichever artist is showing in a month at Aartful Rose there will be a greater opportunity for their work to be viewed," Coley said. "This is one of our endeavors in bringing people together in creative ways."

Coley enlisted the help of Tayloe and Schloss, and Nattier began work on the facility as the head contractor on the construction project, which Coley said is the first "fast-track design-build project" to be completed inside the city limits. He described Nattier's work method as a "design as you go, and as you need, owner do-it-ourselves" construction project. He said the building site went from an empty lot to a nearly completed building in eight weeks.

Tayloe and Schloss, both with previous experience in gallery direction from their work with the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri, have been in charge of planning what Aartful Rose will offer to the public and to its customers.

Coley said he knew he needed Tayloe's help because art and creativity is something she thrives on.

"Delilah is an amazing talent, and she loves to see people inspired," Coley said.

Schloss will serve as manager of the gallery and said the best benefit of the opening will go to the artists who show their work at Aartful Rose.

"For the artists it is very exciting, because their work will be constantly exposed to people who may not usually see it, but there will be many people on hand attending conferences and banquets that will now get an opportunity," Schloss said.

On the first Saturday of each month, a new artist will be featured in the gallery, introduced by a champagne brunch catered by Coley and attended by the artist. Schloss said brunch will give patrons an intimate experience with the featured artist. Ticket prices are $12.95 per person, and reservations for up to 150 people can be made by calling the Rose Bed Inn.

The owners of Aartful Rose intend to make a special donation with a portion of proceeds from Friday's opening reception art and wine sales. The cause, which Coley said is especially important to Nattier and himself, is in remembrance of Melaina Cunningham, the 3-year-old daughter of KFVS12 anchor Jeff Cunningham. Melaina lost her life in early 2009 to complications related to nemaline myopathy, a disease that causes the body to contain a low amount of muscle tone.

Melaina's family and supporters recently joined a campaign to fund a new playground designed for children with special needs and all abilities they hope will be built at Cape County Park.

The opening reception of Aartful Rose will begin at 4 p.m. with ribbon cutting, followed by an introduction to the artists at 5. Music will begin at 6.