A public display of work by local artists, in conjunction with the city's annual street fair, Celebrate Saratoga!, is making a comeback this fall after several years. The arts commission hopes this year's display, called Art in the Park, will become an annual event as well as make the community aware of the commission's existence and the ambitious plans it has for itself.

"This is our first little venture into the public arena," said arts commissioner Mary Ann Henderson. "This gives people the opportunity to just share their art."

"One of the big reasons we're doing it is to get some exposure in the community," echoed commissioner Tracy Halgren, adding that Art in the Park is just one of many activities and projects the commission wants to have. "There's so much that we can be working on."

The commission, approved by the city council last fall, began meeting in February. Its most cumbersome immediate task is developing a city policy for public art installations and accepting donated art. But that work is largely hidden from the public eye, and the commission is actively working to establish relationships with the area's artists and art groups. One way of doing that is to hold events like Art in the Park to provide artists with a forum for meeting each other as well as interacting with the public.

The idea for the event came up at the commission's July meeting. "It happened really quickly," Halgren said. The group recalled that the Celebrate Saratoga! parade in past years had been followed by a performance of the Saratoga Community Band at Wildwood Park, and members of the Saratoga Contemporary Artists were invited to display their work there during the entertainment.

"It was very informal," Henderson said.

The event faded away when the parade was discontinued. But the commission decided to reinstitute it this year at Wildwood Park on Sept. 28 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The band will also be back in action, performing from noon to 1 p.m. Art in the Park will actually be held the week after Celebrate Saratoga!, which is scheduled for Sept. 21. The weeks before and after the street fair, however, are intended to be devoted to community events, and the Celebrate Saratoga! sponsor, the Saratoga Chamber of Commerce, will include announcements of the art display in its advertising for the street fair.

Saratoga artists, as well as artists from elsewhere who are connected to the Saratoga arts community, are invited to participate in the display at no cost or commission charge for the sale of any works. Arts and crafts are also welcome for display. The deadline to apply for participation is Sept. 13; commission staff liaison Kim Saxton-Heinrichs can be contacted at 408.868.1248.

Saxton-Heinrichs said that six individuals have already applied, and the commission is hoping for between 20 and 30 participants this year. Henderson said the commission would like to eventually have its event replicate similar, larger-scale events in Palo Alto, Cupertino and elsewhere.

"Why can't we here in Saratoga provide that kind of hands-on experience?" she asked.

Saratoga has an active arts community, and the commission's seven members reflect that. Henderson is a longtime artist and member of the Saratoga Contemporary Artists and Aegis Gallery, and Halgren was the owner of Elemental Arts studio in Los Gatos, which she is closing to spend more time with her 17-month-old son.

The commission wants to reach out to that broad community, including writers, musicians and others involved with the traditional visual arts. Commissioners have already spoken with other area arts venues, such as Montalvo and Hakone Gardens, and has advertised itself on the public access channel KSAR. Its next step is to more actively reach out to other artists in Saratoga.

"You have to really find out what people want," Henderson said.

"The arts commission wants to support local artists," Saxton-Heinrichs added.

It also wants to help foster an appreciation of art among Saratoga's residents. One way it is proposing to do that, Halgren said, is by reaching out to West Valley College and other schools attended by Saratoga residents.

"Art is essential, I feel," Saxton-Heinrichs said. "We feel art education at schools and having art in public places is important. It's a little bit neglected."

The group is also involved with the Gateway area beautification project, the new library construction and the Memorial Arch relocation and will be included in projects to upgrade the civic center and the new North Campus Facility.

"It's just important to keep art in mind, to let people remember that art is out there," Halgren said. "It's just an important part of feeling part of a community, even though you may not realize it."