CENTRAL PARK
by Nancy Martin

I have called Menifee home for 14 years. My husband and I have built our life here while raising our son. Living near Town Center, we regularly walk our dogs through Central Park, along Haun Road, across the pedestrian bridge, and past the Justice Center. This artwork captures photographs I have taken throughout these walks, celebrating Menifee’s open skies, natural landscapes, wildlife, and recognizable landmarks. I enhanced the photographs with filters and color adjustments, then created a custom “MENIFEE” frame, placing the images within each letter. The work reflects my deep connection to the community and place we proudly call home.

OPTIMISTIC BEGINNINGS, ENDURING RESILIENCE
by Susan Geariety

This piece is created in Mid-Century Modern style to evoke 1962, the year Sun City was founded, capturing the optimism of its beginnings. The blue and orange geometric shapes echo Menifee’s colors, honoring Sun City’s place within the community today. The Bougainvíllea, that grows everywhere throughout our community, symbolizes the resilience and beauty of our seniors. Within its branches, birds represent the families seniors came from and the families they have created: generations connected by love, memory, and belonging. Together, these elements celebrate Sun City’s history, enduring spirit, community, and connection.
(This is for McCall and Bradley)

LUISENO GOLD by Connie Nicholson

An acrylic painting on canvas. It depicts the distinctive leaves of the California Black Oak, its acorns turning from summer to fall colors, and shows the sunlight peeking through the leaves. Acorns provided a highly valued traditional staple food and were a cultural resource for the Luiseño people, so I refer to these valuable acorns as their “gold.” Acorns represent a symbol of growth and potential within Menifee, and the oak tree represents the city’s deep-rooted community. It is painted so it will fit on all sides of the utility box. This is my first acrylic painting.

PAST TO THE PRESENT-THE BEAUTY OF MENIFEE
by Mikayla Giddens

I wanted to show how much Menifee has grown, starting in a more westernized setting, the untouched and unlived ground. The sides is where progression starts; a map of Menifee, the 215, the farmlands and the poppies that bloom during the spring. The other side display newer additions; the paloma wash bridge, pickleball and basketball courts–quartz ranch or La Ladera Park, and bike trails–Greer Ranch trailhead, and an image of the suburbs, to show the community and beauty being outside in Menifee. The back image has the countryside marketplace, as well as Menifee Lakes, and the country club golf course.

WATERING HOLE
by Kate Donalson

Menifee is not only a suburban town, but a rich habitat that supports a diverse ecosystem. That’s the inspiration for my Art Box submission titled, “The Watering Hole.”

Each side of the electrical box features birds and animals found in our community, from coyotes and rabbits to herons and owls. Using the templates provided, I carefully mapped out each creature’s placement so no beaks or tails would be cut off and each side of the box would have a focal point.

Then I painted the final composition in gouache on paper. The final result is the colorful landscape we call home. Everywhere you look, there is natural beauty in Menifee.

MEMORIES OF MENIFEE
by Bridgette Johansen

I chose to depict different locations in Menifee that I love and have sentimental memories of. I framed each image as a postage stamp to emphasize the city's unique beauty and nostalgic qualities.

THE SHAPE OF HOME
by Sarah Williams

I grew up in Sun City/Menifee when the landscape seemed to stretch endlessly, fields for days, rolling hills, and wheat moving gently across the land. Before development transformed the horizon, there was a quiet beauty in the openness of the valley. This piece is a remembrance of that land.
Through my work, I am exploring the way places become intertwined with our memories and sense of home. The fields and hills I remember are more than a landscape; they hold pieces of my childhood, moments in time, and a feeling of belonging that cannot be recreated in quite the same way.
This piece is my way of honoring what was here the wheat fields, the rolling hills, the openness and preserving, through art, a landscape that lives on in my memory. It is both a reflection on change and an act of remembering.
The land may look different now, but the landscape I grew up with remains a part of me.

STIPPLED INSECTS OF MENIFEE
by Alexander Russell

I focused on nature, specifically insects native to the city. I have actually caught these ones personally in my house or in my backyard at least once.

ANIMALS OF MENIFEE
by Victoria Espinoza

I wanted to focus on nature and the native animals of Menifee. I plan to further detail my work if I am chosen and would love the time to improve upon it.

CREATION OF MENIFEE
by Kristine Rodriguez

Being able to wake up every morning to see hills of life. We are blessed to have a city where we have nature at a turn of the head. To have wildlife run across the street or a bird seating above a light post at morning school drop off. To navigate the city with architecture that blends with aesthetics. And people that travel through it knowing we are all family, created by Menifee.

BRILLIANT WARMTH by Samantha Sanchez

Beginning with the pale white clouds. In the vast clear sky above. The valley's hills and mountains with their ridges and shadows. Supplementing the valley is the rugged terrain of its mountains and contoured hills. At the bottom of those mountains is a wheat field by a nearby lake overlooked by a Percheron mare and filly. Menifee's beginnings show family's building a community. History and our powerful connection with one another that brings us together in the present.

LIQUID GOLD
by Connie Nicholson

“Liquid Gold,” named for the early honey production that many families used for income. It is mixed media, including oil pastel, acrylic marker, pen, and colored pencil. Menifee beekeepers, from the 1890s to the early 1900s, relied heavily on the local wild flora that grew in the valley, including black sage, wild mustard, CA buckwheat, and wild alfalfa, which are depicted in this scene and are covered in honey bees. Some beekeeping families included the Wickerds, Harrisons, Roberts, McGrath, Walkers, and Zeiders. It should wrap around all sides of the utility box. This is only my second oil pastel piece.

PLANE IN PALMS by Blanca Robles

The image includes 2 common aspects living in Menifee which are hearing/seeing planes passing by. A ground view is used looking up to a plane surrounded by palm trees.

MENIFEE CITYWORKS by Emily Cannon

This is what I think of Menifee, the rolling hills in varying shades, and the familiar streets that are recognizable. This is an actual line drawing of the streets of Menifee including the 215 and Newport. And I don’t know if this is an option, but I would like to paint it myself if that is possible.

COMMUNITY GARDEN
by Blanca Robles

Community Garden represents the diversity in Menifee and its community. Each flower is unique and different in color, shape and size creating a vibrant welcoming garden.

MUSIC GIRL
by Alaina Gonzalez

Through the love of music and art. Inspired by the sunsets and landscapes.

ICONIC NATIVE WILDLIFE OF MENIFEE
by Valeria Parra-Santoro

This piece started as an homage to my favorite Menifee landmark, eagle rock, and eventually turned into a greater celebration of the natural beauty and wildlife of Menifee. Anchored by a beautiful California sunset over the rolling hills, my goal for this artwork was to highlight the iconic and/or endangered wildlife that can be found in our very own city through 4 separate but cohesive panels. I hope this piece serves as a reminder that even in a residential area like Menifee, we are inextricably linked to the nature which surrounds us.

VIBRANT MENIFEE by Gayle DuRivage

This design celebrates the active, welcoming spirit of Menifee through a bold, graphic composition. The background features a midtone green field overlaid with large block-style lettering that spells Menifee in varying sizes, creating a subtle visual texture across the surface. Layered over this background are simplified line drawings of people engaged in a wide range of outdoor activities – – biking, running, playing sports, strolling with children, etc. These figures are intentionally minimal and universal, allowing age, gender, ability, and cultural inclusivity to come through without relying on detailed features. Together the typography and line work create an energetic, community-centered design that reflects the diversity and vitality of everyday life in Menifee.
*This design is a rough draft concept. Color and images can be adjusted. Please note that because this submission is shown at greatly reduced size, the design may appear visually dense. However, since the final artwork will be installed on a utility box of approximately 6 feet tall and 3 feet wide per panel, the typography and figures will read clearly at full scale. The side panels of the attached auxiliary cabinet will have images also.

PEACE SERENITY - HERITAGE LAKE
by Deborah Warren

This is a 9x12 watercolor I painted from a photograph of the lake in my community. We moved here in 2018 because of the view and walking paths. My happy place to relax and gather my thoughts.

LOVE GROWS HERE
by Alyssa Hildebrand

Menifee has been my home for 16 years, where I grew, raised my family, and built my own nest. At Haun and Newport, "Love Grows Here" invites our community to pause amidst the busyness. Watching local Anna’s hummingbirds work tirelessly to protect and provide for their little ones mirrors our own journey as parents. Their quiet devotion inspired this piece. Through vibrant colors and blooming roses, this painting honors Menifee as a safe, thriving sanctuary for nature and families alike, reminding us to slow down, cherish our loved ones, and appreciate life’s sweet moments.

My physical painting measures 41" × 13", and the auxiliary box portion is 12" wide by 6" tall.

To ensure the artwork proportions align correctly, I scaled down the artwork using a ratio to match the actual box dimensions while preserving resolution and visual balance across the panels.

While I own a high-resolution scanner and have basic knowledge of Photoshop, scanning a physical painting of this scale requires scanning in 8.5" × 11" overlapping pieces and digitally stitching them together.

As a mother of three young children, I was unable to dedicate the uninterrupted time needed to complete the complex stitching process prior to submission.
I am deeply passionate about this project and would love nothing more than to leave my mark on our community through this public art piece. Should my design be selected, I will do my best to take the time to complete the high-resolution digital stitch to provide the final production-ready file, although my Photoshop skills are very limited.

KING OF SUMMER by Lee Kyungsoo

This piece blends diverse sunflowers to deliver vibrant vitality and positivity.
Like sunflowers under a brilliant summer sun, it reflects Menifee's rapid growth and wishes our community a joyful, energetic future.

SHINING HILLSIDES
by Liberty Dannenberger

For the design, I really wanted to focus on some of the wildlife present in Menifee. This includes the large amount of hillsides, the California Poppies, and some native animals. The overall beautiful landscape and nature of Menifee is what I enjoy about it most.

DAPPLED EVENING
by Sabin Flores

I have fond memories of the scenic Menifee landscape. As a child I remember passing by sheep grazing in the fields by the roadside. As an adult I watched many sunsets fall on the beautiful hills as I drove home from work after teaching children how to create artwork that captured a beauty of its own.

SUNFLOWERS
by Barbie Sanchez

Having lived in Menifee for 39 years, I have witnessed our quiet rural landscape transform into a bustling suburban city. Amidst this constant state of change, the brilliant sunflowers blooming along the roadsides every summer serve as my anchoring inspiration. They are a resilient, unchanging symbol of our valley's roots. Through this piece, I capture these fleeting, golden remnants of our past, inviting viewers to pause and find solace in the beautiful elements of our environment that refuse to be erased.

SUNFLOWER FIELD
by Linda LaGuardia

This painting shows my love of nature. I think it connects to Menifee with its wild fields, mountains, at sometimes sunflowers growing along the road.

HUMMINGBIRD
by Linda LaGuardia

Hummingbirds fly through our backyards and in our flowers. They are fascinating to watch!

COMPTON BEAUTIFICATION
by Ryan Nguyen

The theme is in collaboration with Art of the Endangered and the National Wildlife to beautify Compton with butterflies that bring peace to the neighborhood.

PALOMINO HORSE
by Linda LaGuardia

I love seeing the horses on Menifee ranches. They are so beautiful.

HUMMINGBIRD IN FLOWERS
by Leah Hall

When I think of Menifee, I think of year round sunshine, flowers and hummingbirds. This is a beautiful place to live, and it absolutely cheers me up to see hummingbirds visiting my yard even in the winter months. These beautiful birds inspired my painting.

TREE OF PARADISE
by Sharon Mackey

None provided.

GRAZING WITH MOVEMENT
by Sabin Flores

When I was a child Menifee was still a devolving town. I vividly remember passing by rolling hills and fields filled with sheep. This piece aims to capture the serenity of those days.

OLD BARN BY THE RIVER
by Linda LaGuardia

I love seeing the old country areas of Menifee, especially the barns and the hills in the distance!

POPPY BLOOM
by Amie Unger

The design I chose to create captures the stunning and iconic local landscape of the California poppy bloom along the Interstate 15 corridor leading into Menifee. During this beautiful season you can see an influx of monarch butterflies that match the warm sunshine tones of the poppies.

WE ARE MENIFEE
by Ginger Galloway

I created a scene that depicts the joy, love, diversity and playfulness of the children of Menifee. Colorful and vibrant images that capture the eye and child like whimsy.

BEAUTIFUL DAY
by Trevor Simpson

This monster symbolizes me or anybody really who is just enjoying a beautiful sunset around some buzzy bees

IN BETWEEN
by Crystal Torres

This original mixed-media painting was created in Menifee between two journeys: a February day trip to Santa Barbara, which inspired my Santa Barbara collection, and a later drive along the Baja coast, which inspired my next body of work.

Created on a 16 × 20 inch canvas using collage, oil sticks, oil paint, chalk pastels, and acrylic, the piece reflects my process of gathering inspiration through travel and returning home to create.
Menifee is my creative home base—a place where experiences, memories, landscapes, and emotions come together. Wherever I travel, I return to Menifee to make art.

OSTRICH ART
by Amelia Gonzalez Garcia

I am a burst of color shaped through gentle pastel strokes and careful stencil lines. My bright feathers and bold face are meant to catch your eye and make you pause.

Every shade pressed into my surface carries a little spark of imagination — playful, curious, and full of life. I exist to celebrate color, creativity, and the joy of seeing the world in a magical way.

REACHING TOWARDS THE INFINITE
by Roger Gabriel

Humans have always reached into the infinite to try to find answers, this is my interpretation of what Spirit looks like during that process.

SUCCULENT ECHEVERLIA
by Nonnie Belaire

As an artist living in the desert climate, I much appreciate succulents. Echeveria captures my attention with its rosette formation, rows of sculptured leaves in unexpected vibrant colors.

FROSTBITE
by Donald Bentley

Abstract, loads of color and emotion.

PEACE BY ICONS
by Andrew Diehl

Original pop art of icons who are influencers of hope and peace.

BUTTERFLY GARDEN
by Linda LaGuardia

Butterflies are often in our open spaces if we look for these beautiful creatures.

WHEAT FIELDS
by Connie Nicholson

A watercolor and gouache landscape showing the view looking east over the area where Walter Zeiders wheat farm may have been in the 1930's. The view of Bell Mountain, the San Jacinto Mts, and Idyllwild is in the background. It features a Pennsylvania Dutch barn, like the one belonging to Walter Zeiders and a farm house from the same time period. Inspiration was drawn from photos from the book, "Images of America: Menifee Valley" and from a visit to the Menifee Historical Museum. Wheatfield Park was named in honor of our wheat farming families of the past.

NATIVE FLORA & FAUNA OF MENIFEE VALLEY
by Gayle DuRivage

Note: This design is a rough draft, not finished art. The final art would be more refined, and the medium would be acrylic paint, not crayon.

This design is a tribute to the native flora and fauna that once flourished in the Menifee Valley long before development impacted the landscape. I wanted my design to be a small moment of reflection – a lesson on the species that thrived here when the valley was open grassland, rocky hillsides, and rolling hills. I highlighted plants and animals that are truly indigenous to the region. Every species depicted was deliberately chosen to reflect Menifee’s original biodiversity: the ground squirrel, Western fence lizard, gopher snake, kangaroo rat, red-tailed hawk, coyote, bobcat, California quail, burrowing owl, desert cottontail, and Monarch butterfly. I included native plants, such as California poppies, lupine and scrub oak.

To frame the artwork, I added a band of triangular shapes at the top and a diamond pattern along the bottom. These motives are inspired by the traditional basket weaving designs of the Luiseño people, the original inhabitants of this region. Including these elements is my way acknowledging and honoring the indigenous community who thrived here long before modern development.

My hope is that this design encourages viewers to recognize and appreciate the natural heritage that still surrounds us, the ecological history, and also cultural memory.