An artist community in a celebratory state Roosevelt Arts Project celebrates 20 years with festival this weekend BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP Staff Writer Above, Roosevelt resident Sheila Linz's flowers are surrounded by fountain bubbles in her painting that will appear in the factory off Oscar Drive this weekend. At left, Roosevelt resident Jamie Callahan will show this acrylic on canvas piece called "Hexagon Hologram." The creation of artwork can happen in an instant or over decades. It can be the result of an individual's unconscious or the conscious collective. It is a part of living and a part of dying. For 20 years, the Roosevelt Arts Project (RAP) has nurtured the entire spectrum of those who like to create. The nonprofit has been known to provide a podium to the poet soldier returning home from war and also to give stages to the new muses of recovered addicts. The group has offered wall space and microphones to the young, the old, the established, the up-and-coming, the shy and the proud. Since 1987, RAP's mission has been to foster and encourage collaboration among local artists in a variety of media and to present the resulting works to the public throughout its arts season. RAP formed the year after the town of Roosevelt celebrated its 50th anniversary. Originally known as Jersey Homesteads, the municipality was created by the federal Work Projects Administration (WPA) in the 1930s as a cooperative that included homes and jobs for those looking to get out of the tenements in the cities at that time. The arts have played an integral role in the community since 1937, when the government hired artist Ben Shahn to paint a mural in the newly constructed Roosevelt School. The mural is testament to the immigrants who settled Jersey Homesteads. Once Shahn settled in town, other artists soon followed. Recalling how big the celebration of the town's 50th anniversary was, with people coming to the small community from all over the country, Roosevelt resident and RAP board member David Brahinsky said he and Roosevelt residents David Herrstrom, Jacob Landau, Alan Mallach and "one or two others" got together soon after the festivities to discuss why the town didn't do something to celebrate its art and heritage every year. The discussion led to the formation of RAP. James Hayden, a Roosevelt resident and the owner of the Eleanor Gallery, will display these mixed-media creations at the art festival this weekend. RAP grew quickly into an organization that put on artistic events throughout the entire year. The organization is celebrating its 20th year this weekend with a festival comparable to the town's 50th anniversary celebration. The weekend-long (May 4, 5 and 6) arts festival is planned to include art, music and historic tours, and will culminate in the unveiling of a community-created mural. According to Brahinsky, art in the community of fewer than 1,000 people is stronger than ever. "There are more artists, more musicians, more writers," he said. "The arts program is exploding. There are more people on board and participating." Brahinsky noted Roosevelt resident Jim Hayden's contribution to RAP with the Eleanor Gallery, an art gallery in the local factory on Oscar Drive that showcases local artists' works. The Eleanor Gallery will host an "Exhibit of Roosevelt Artists" 5-7:30 p.m. Friday, and noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Hayden, who is co-chairing the anniversary festival with Roosevelt resident Tristan Herrstrom, said, "The 20th anniversary RAP weekend is a culmination of many great minds, thoughts and ideas. There will be a nice condensation of art and music throughout the town." Besides using his gallery to feature local artists' works, Hayden and volunteers will transform the hallway in the factory into a gallery space that will extend into the loading dock area of the factory. As people were dropping their submissions off on April 28, Hayden said, he was impressed by the consistent quality of the artwork dropped off by seasoned artists, new artists, and those who just dabble in art in their spare time. "It's like opening magical boxes," Hayden said. The 20th Anniversary Celebration weekend will also include performances by The Roosevelt String Band at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday at the borough hall. The Roosevelt String Band is also celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. The string band, which only plays two performances per year and consists mostly of Roosevelt residents, started out as a band influenced by the Incredible String Band. Brahinsky started the band with his son, Joshua, and Rooseveltians Paul Prestopino and Ed Cedar, but it has had many incarnations throughout the years. Former members include John Parrott, Anita Cervantes, Howie Jacobson and Judith Trachtenberg. Parrott, who still lives in Roosevelt, and Jacobson, who now lives in North Carolina, will join the string band in its performances this weekend. Cedar's daughter, Samantha, will also sit in. Brahinsky said the show will feature many of the folk songs from the band's repertoire over the past 20 years and many introduced to the band by the late Trachtenberg. Today, the band consists of Cedar, Prestopino, Brahinsky, Gail Frantz, and New Yorkers Sarah Houtz and Joe Peppertone. When asked how a band can stay together for 20 years, Brahinsky said, "We're dedicated to doing this show," noting that the band performs only one weekend per year. "If we had to play more, I don't know if we would have the time or the energy," he said. Brad Garton will provide a different kind of musical experience with "Wild Roosevelt: Artwalk in the Woods" 1-5 p.m. Saturday at the Roosevelt Amphitheater. Guided walking tours throughout the town, which is one of the only towns to ever be placed in whole on the National Register of Historic Places, will take place Sunday at 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. starting at the borough hall. The festival will conclude with the unveiling of the new community mural Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at the borough hall. The mural, which has been in the works for a couple of years, is the result of the talents of over 100 community members. "One of the most exciting things about this is that so many people participated, quite a large percentage of the town," Naomi Brahinsky said. The mosaic is made of ceramic tiles that residents created to resemble some of the most familiar animals, plants and strictures in the borough. The mural consists of five panels and measures 14 feet by 4 feet and hangs on the front of the borough hall. RAP funded the creation of the mural along with the Monmouth County Arts Council. Artist Katherine Hackl, of Lambertville, oversaw the project. Diedre Sheehan said she believes the mural project got many community members, including children, involved in art who may never have done it before. "I hope we've kind of demystified it and just shown what a wonderful thing it is to have in life - to be able to make art," she said. She added, "For me, that is what RAP tries to do: celebrate making art." When asked what he's looking forward to the most about this weekend, Brahinsky said, "Just the fun of it. We all have a lot of fun. We don't make any money. The money raised goes toward the maintenance of the program. It's all done for the pleasure." Hayden encouraged neighbors and people from other communities to join in the exhibits, history and celebration of Roosevelt. "Come out and see what makes this such a great place to live and experience a small town of great talents and international connections, on a personal level," he said. For more information call (609) 918-1233 or e-mail jimdesigns@AOL.com.