Town of Los Gatos: The Cat Walk

The Town of Los Gatos seeks proposals for the Cat Walk, a public art installation for Downtown Los Gatos along Santa Cruz Avenue. One to two artists will be selected to create a total of 10 to 15 cats to be placed in the nooks of Crepe Myrtle trees along either side of Santa Cruz Avenue between Main Street and Bachman. The selected cat art pieces will be considered a donation or acquisition from the artists, with the Town retaining rights of placement and removal at its discretion. The cats' condition, maintenance, and artistic effectiveness will be assessed after one year to determine if the project should expand to a broader geographic area in Downtown.

The project budget is $4,550, providing a $300 to $450 stipend per cat for design, fabrication, delivery, and installation. Artists must create four unique cat designs that are suitable for public display to a wide and diverse audience. Cats must be crafted from durable materials (such as fiberglass, cast materials, or shaped and welded metals) that withstand the elements and resist theft, vandalism, and deterioration. The head and body should range between 10 to 15 inches (excluding the tail) and weigh no more than 10 pounds. Cats must be designed to last ten years and be free from unsafe conditions. Artists must also design brackets to affix the artworks to trees and accommodate future tree growth.

Submittal materials must include a letter of interest with name, contact information, professional resume, examples of previous works, and a brief description of proposed designs; and up to six sketches in electronic format that include dimensions and weight, materials and finishes with durability and maintenance descriptions, bracket design for tree installation, and affirmation of copyright ownership without restriction or infringement on third party rights. Designs will be evaluated by a selection committee comprised of Arts and Culture Commission members, community members, local business and arts organization representatives, Parks Commission members, and town staff based on aesthetics, artistic quality, style compatibility, permanence, public liability, technical feasibility, and uniqueness. The full Public Art Selection Policy is available at www.losgatosca.gov/artselection.