Local artist captures the fall season along Parkway Gallery

Photos from a local artist who captured the changing of the seasons are now on display along Mission Viejo’s Parkway Gallery through January.

The photos, which were selected by the City’s Cultural Arts Committee, are part of a special art exhibit highlighting the fall season within pilasters in the median islands along Crown Valley Parkway. The City in 2009 unveiled Parkway Gallery, Orange County’s first art gallery enjoyable by car. The art work is replaced throughout the year.

Elyse Cohen, who is known simply as “Elyse,” created the watercolor paintings from images she took in the foothills of the Saddleback Mountains. The talented artist, who has lived in the area since 1995, captured vivid colors of fall foliage and berries.

A longtime well-known artist, Elyse was commissioned by New York City to do a watercolor painting from a photograph that then Mayor Rudy Giuliani had taken from the Staten Island ferry. She then presented her artwork, “Twin Towers” Lower Manhattan to him in his New York City Hall office. “In Remembrance” 9/11/01, is available as a limited edition fine art print.

The City is grateful to Elyse for submitting her photos for this exhibit. Residents are encouraged to stay tuned to the City’s Mission Viejo Life Blog (www.missionviejolife.org) and its eNewsletter for other opportunities to highlight their artistic talents on Parkway Gallery. For more information, call the Arts Information Line at 949-470-8440.