WATERLOO - Art has gone beyond "main street" in downtown Waterloo.

It's gone mainstream - and global.

A stream of international tourists, journalists and celebrities have traveled to the community to view artist Paco Rosic's homage to Michelangelo's masterpiece, the Sistine Chapel, on the ceiling at Galleria de Paco restaurant, 622 Commercial St. Rosic, a Bosnian refugee, spent months spray-painting the 2,511-square-foot painting that has attracted international media attention.

Tourists as far away as Italy, France, England, Germany, Iceland, China, Japan and the country of Georgia have stopped by to dine on European-influenced cuisine and gawk at the ceiling. Michelle Monaghan of "Mission Impossible III" celebrated her birthday at the gallery, and Nicolas Cage visited with his family.

"I still can't believe it sometimes. It's very nice, and I appreciate it so much and I appreciate the support I have received," said Rosic.

An estimated 22,000 people visited Galleria de Paco from December to June.

He's excited that his project has brought notice to downtown Waterloo as a cultural destination, a community where art is increasingly part of the cityscape.

"Since I moved here 10 years ago, the town has been growing. I think five years from now, there's going to be a big art scene in downtown. Look at the opening of the new Youth Pavilion at the art center (Waterloo Center for the Arts). That is very nice for the town and the state. The art (scene) isn't like what's in other cities where it's all in one area or on one street. Here, it's like the whole downtown, more than one street on both sides of the river. That takes longer to build up, but it is happening," Rosic said.

In late May, New Orleans native Richard C. Thomas' 29-by 72-foot mural was unveiled to great fanfare. The mural, "Keki Me Si Metose Neniwa - We the People," is painted on the Lafayette Street skywalk and is visible from East Fourth Street to Lincoln Park.

The artist and his wife, Joy, and their family relocated to Waterloo in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, lured by the promise of the large-scale commission. The artwork recognizes immigrants who settled in Waterloo, beginning with native Americans and continuing to present-day Bosnian and Hispanic populations.

Thomas said the mural is "about pride of the family, history and heritage."

The "gallery without walls" theme began in earnest in about 1996, with Jake Jacobs' mural, "Crops From Field To Table," a 16- by 24-foot series of 12 painted panels. The painting is a little faded from the elements on the exterior wall of a building at Sixth and Sycamore Street.

Des Moines artist Concetta Morales was commissioned to create a series of three mosaics, "We Stick Together," commemorating the Sullivan brothers on display at the Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center. Among the first sculptures installed was a three-piece red steel structure by Jim Benedict on Lafayette Street, located between East Fourth and Fifth streets. A recent addition is the bronze sculpture of Lou Henry Hoover by John Jago. Nearly two dozen other sculptures dot downtown streets, part of the "InsideOutside" public sculpture exhibition sponsored by the Waterloo Center for the Arts, including work by Jerry Cowger, Marie Camille Lentsch, Marc Moulton and others.

The Phelps Youth Pavilion is nearing its public opening, showcasing interactive galleries for youths, adjacent to the Waterloo Center for the Arts. The center also is poised to unveil an expansive new gift to its permanent collection, while work progresses on the Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum adjacent to the Grout Museum. There is also the Riverfront Renaissance project under way.

"Downtown Waterloo is a cool place to be - the cool factor is an important aspect. Success follows success. It's not surprising to see that people follow artists. Historically, it's happened in New York City and other cities, and that's what we see happening here. We've made an investment in our public art. It's amazing how much talent we have in the Cedar Valley," said Terry Poe Buschkamp, Main Street Waterloo director.

Beyond tourism, public art is a community investment and increases pride, says Cammie Scully, Waterloo Center for the Arts/Phelps Youth Pavilion executive director, director of the Cultural Arts Commission and member of the Public Art Committee. Other members are artists, representatives from Main Street Waterloo, businesses, Grout Museum District, Waterloo Center for the Arts and the city of Waterloo.

The central business district is officially designated a Cultural District.

"We want visitors to downtown, but we also want people to open businesses, live and work in downtown. We want it to have a dynamic atmosphere. Art, business development, new restaurants, all of that brings people downtown; they all feed into each other. It attracts capital and creative people," Scully said.

Contact Melody Parker at (319) 291-1429 or melody.parker@wcfcourier.com.