The first-ever Los Gatos Art Fest Plein Air Competition will be held Sept. 30 to Oct. 2. There are many features to this extensive art event.

In 2003, a group of local art enthusiasts spearheaded the Los Gatos Art-Cat Project, in which 50 fiberglass cats were designed by 50 artists, displayed in local businesses and then auctioned off at the Lyndon Bandstand dedication. Sales from the auction totaled $48,000 and benefited nine different nonprofit art organizations. At the time, $5,000 was set aside to help start a local "plein art" competition—in which artists paint entirely in the open air with materials right in front of them.

In mid-July of this year, a "call to artists" was publicized to get the first Plein Air Competition under way. Organizers asked interested artists from all over the Bay Area to submit at least three images for consideration. Then, internationally known art-book author, art instructor and painter Richard McDaniel and George Rivera of the Triton Museum of Art acted as jurors and selected 32 artists to come to Los Gatos and compete in the plein air event. Among the 32 artists are four from Los Gatos—Barney Davidge, Rick Guidice, Ed Lucey and Maralyn Miller—and two from Saratoga—Dan Tellep and Akiyo Walker.

In addition to the 32 competing artists, guests and student artists from Los Gatos High School will also be painting.

Plein air painting will take place on Oct. 1 in and around Los Gatos. On Oct. 2, when all painting is completed, special events will be held at Testarossa Vineyards in Los Gatos, including an exhibition, live and silent auctions of completed paintings and the announcement of the winners of the competition and the awarding of monetary prizes.

All events are free and open to the public. "We are proud to put on a first-class event that we hope will be extremely rewarding for artists and well received by the community," says Elke Groves, president of the Los Gatos Arts Association and chairwoman of the Los Gatos Art Fest.

For a complete list of artists and more information, visit www.losgatosartfest.org.