As the Mission Viejo city staff and council majority look for ways to promote our city, including changing our logo and “handle,” we have decided to open a unique art gallery right in the heart of the city. Or should I say right in the middle of 55 MPH traffic along Crown Valley Parkway.
As you read this story, let me remind you that we are the safest city in the nation and have just increased our OCSD Contract to retain that prestigious honor.
You see we have created the Mission Viejo Parkway Gallery that will contain changeable art to be mounted on the pilasters along Crown Valley Parkway. This will become the first “Parkway Gallery” in Orange County (if you ignore the art work on several of our freeway walls that was paid for by Caltrans).
As a long time supporter of public safety you should notice I have yet to discuss the cost which may be partially picked up by our city.
So when you next drive along Crown Valley Parkway from Interstate 5 be sure to bring your camera and look for a place to stop in the middle of traffic to take photos as these contemporary changeable art pieces will be rotated.
The good news is that when you are rear ended, our expanded trauma center, better known as Mission Hospital, will be right around the corner to tend to your emergency medical needs. Great planning, again!
I saw the work on Crown Valley recently, and I have to say what a huge difference it has made to the streetscape. The medians and pilasters look beautiful as does the new landscaping and fresh pavement. This project has created a grand entrance to Mission Viejo. You guys should be proud. I wish I had something similar to that where I live.
Hector.
Without getting into the 18 month project delay having an eight lane expressway across town to serve our neighbors to the east is not the place to install 16 pilasters displaying art. The Crown Valley corridor is a commercial area in our city. Most, if not all, of these pilasters are in the median, not a pedestrian walkway where residents can stop and admire the artists creativity.
Is “Hector” an employee of Mission Viejo City Hall? I have never (NEVER!) heard anything like this smarmy crap from a Mission Viejo resident who has had to endure four years of stopped traffic to add one lane on each side. CVP is a huge mess — make that a huge, ugly mess. It was a conglomeration before and it is now an abomination. Who is the designer, Tinky Winky? It’s supposed to be a fricking road!
Seriously, am I the only person who is wondering why it is now illegal to use a cell while talking but it is ok to look at art?
Hey, Mark. Have you seen pictures of the “art”? It’s butt-ugly if not grotesque. If anyone thinks cell phones and gawking cause accidents, how about DWB? Driving while barfing — should be against the law.
Don’t look, you’ll barf.
email from Mission Viejo
Hmmmmmm! Freeway Art for MV! Thanks for update and warning so I can avoid getting rear-ended.
“Hector” gets busted! Excuse me, city hallers, but you have no idea how blatantly obvious you are when complimenting yourselves. You are aliens, and your ideas, comments and bad taste all stick out like a sore thumb. Note that “Hector” wrote his post while on the clock, 1:30 p.m.
In response to the objections to artwork placement on Crown Valley – While not everyone agrees on what is or is not “art” the aplication of public artwork within the city of Mission Viejo is an outstanding improvement over light poles, trash cans, sidewalks and driveways. The particular placement of art in the pilasters can and should be monitored by the Mission Viejo Cultural Arts Committee, which was founded specifically to promote the arts within the community of Mission Viejo and is made up of a variety of visual and performing artists who are knowledgeable about what type of visual art can be used in which specific areas.
The pilasters can be filled with artwork that is attractive and can be enjoyed without causing traffic stoppage and traffic jams.
We, as well as most cities in the United States now, consistantly install artistic banners all along our highly travelled streets that actually advertise specific seasons and events, and I don’t hear of anyone complaining that they stop traffic. The banners used for the Library Opening, the Sesqui Centennial, etc. certainly didn’t create a big, negative impact on our traffic flow, and neither will the pilasters.
Even if some of our citizens objected to the particular art project that was originally slated for these pilasters, that doesn’t mean that they, of themselves, are eyesores.
Mission Viejo has only within the last twelve or thirteen years begun to establish itself as a front runner in the Orange County area to promote the arts. In addition, most of the public artwork that has been installed within the City has been contributed by the artists and has not caused huge expenditures from the city coffers. So, too, will be most of the artwork that will be selected for the Crown Valley project.
As for Keith Rattay, won’t some of the objectors to the City’s beautification projects try to remember the old, almost unnegotiable bit of walking trail along Oso Creek, the trash thrown into the creek and around the surrounding area, the unbelievable stench from the rancid water?
Please compare that with the beautifully landscaped and clean, negotiable walking and riding trails that now surround the area, the public art pieces that enhance and contribute to the aesthetic plantings, and dare to tell me or anyone that these improvements would have taken place without Mr. Rattay’s vision and expertise!
This so called art is so disturbing, I no longer take this route to the freeway from my home in Mission Viejo because it scares my children. Whomever decided this was appropriate should be fired and ashamed. In the wake of our 20+ million dollar library, Quarterly full color ‘City Newsletter’, The kaleidoscope eyesore/traffic nightmare, and extravagant School district offices, once again, our city has decided to waste a ton of money on frivolity and excess. Just because you CAN spend the money doesn’t mean that you SHOULD.
While we’re on the topic of Crown Valley Parkway and waste, Is it just me, or does it seem like theres an excessive number of plants in the median?