by Robert Muellera unique arts collaborative

P.O. Box 5, Roosevelt, New Jersey 08555

Out of the geographical center of New Jersey, the Roosevelt Arts Project (RAP) continues a tradition of varied and often daring arts events, including experimental collaborations. RAP premieres in its series of annual events new works by Roosevelt playwrights, painters, folk singers, poets, and composers.

Given the tradition of this small, rural community, it is natural that RAP should be born in Roosevelt, N.J. The town was created during the Depression as an agro-industrial cooperative. The agricultural part died when it was discovered that there were no farmers among the urban pioneers recruited for the cooperative. The industrial part soon rusted when the apparel business fell on hard times. But the cooperative part is still alive and thriving in Roosevelt.

A fateful invitation at the inception of the town wedded the cooperative tradition and the arts. In 1937, Ben Shahn was invited to paint a mural in the newly erected Roosevelt School. After finishing the mural, which still graces a large wall of the school's foyer, he found he could not leave. He had fallen in love with this cantankerous town in a quiet country setting, so he stayed and invited his friends, who invited theirs.

The result is a town with perhaps a higher percentage of professional artists of all persuasions - from painters to weavers, poets to potters - than any other town in America. Even its flat-roofed, Bauhaus-inspired architecture (designed by Louis Kahn) is notable, securing for the town a place on the National Historic Register.

This creative density was bound to reach critical mass. In 1986 the late writer, Peter Berlinrut, and nationally known artists, Bernarda Bryson Shahn and Jacob Landau, with David Herrstrom and friends founded the Roosevelt Arts Project.

What has fissioned and flourished is unique in New Jersey. Many theatre groups, poets cooperatives, dance companies, and others devoted to a single medium are scattered throughout the state. But the Roosevelt Arts Project is the only group that brings together artists in a great variety of media with the express purpose of fostering collaboration and presenting their often experimental work to the public.

The results have been impressive. Each season, poets, musicians, and artists present collaborative works, some of which have gone on to be performed widely. "A sonata that would never have been written but for the Arts Project, a clash of new works by two composers or poets who would never have shared the same program, is the thrill," as president David Herrstrom puts it.

And beyond traditional media, Arts Project events have experimented with digital-audio-tape performances in collaboration with video art, and even improvisatory performances, such as a Jacob Landau's celebration for J.S. Bach that brought a half dozen musicians, poets, and painters together in one collaborative evening. This "most unusual celebration," as one reviewer called it, at times "produced work of both beauty and power."

Most Roosevelt Arts Project events take place in the town's Borough Hall (the Municipal Building).

The work of the Roosevelt Arts Project is made possible in part through your support.

The Roosevelt Arts Project...

  • The 2007 -2008 Season
     
  • The 2006-2007 Season
     
  • The 2005-2006 Season
    The first event was a screening of the film MY ARCHITECT. The film tells the story of Louis Kahn, one of the 20th century's greatest architects, who played an inportant role in designing our community at the start of his career.  More information about this and the rest of the 2005-2006 season can be found by clicking here.
     
  • General Information and Directions
     
  • Ana Cervantes has announced the release of her new CD, Rumor de Paramo. You can read more about the Juan Rulfo Project and this acclaimed CD (and hear some snippets from it) at her website, by clicking on the cover's image here:


  • The Roosevelt String Band Double-CD !
    We are excited to be able to announce the availability of a double-CD recording of the Roosevelt String Band's 2002 Concert. The double-CD is available for $20, and includes a track from their 1998 Concert with Judith Trachtenberg singing. The CD is available through David Brahinsky, at 609-443-1898. Or you may purchase a copy at RAP events.
     
  • The Directory of Roosevelt Artists - Present
    (an awesome alphabetical listing of the current body of artists, constantly being up-dated - latest addition to the listing is poet Roberta M. Heck; plus other recent additions, such as more HYPERPOEMS from David Sten Herrstrom, and Ana Cervantes' newly enhanced website now features a Blog and a Scrapbook and recent and up-coming performances, as well as more musical links on her "Recordings" webpage)
     
  • The Directory of Roosevelt Artists - Past
    (a fond alphabetical remembering of the many artists who have graced this town)
     
  • The Mural
    Ben Shahn's 1937 mural that is displayed in the lobby of the Roosevelt Public School is a popular site, attracting visitors every year to admire this work of one of Roosevelt's most renowned artists. You may wish to check out some of the recently added images to this site. (Listed in the National Registry of Historic Sites)
     
  • In Memorium - Judith Trachtenberg
    We were greatly saddened on July 6, 2001 to lose this wonderful member of our community. In remembrance of Judy, we've been able to re-print the article in the EXAMINER that marked her passing, and we are providing two on-line videos of her some of her performances.
     
  • From the 2000-2001 Season...
    To see a video stream of the May 19, 2001 Computer Chamber Music concert, we have two copies of the concert, to accommodate different speed connections.

Roosevelt, The Town...
Roosevelt was not originally known as a haven for artists. In fact Roosevelt was originally called Jersey Homesteads, acquiring its present name after the death of Franklin Roosevelt, whose New Deal made the town's creation possible, as a Cooperative meant to house some two hundred families of unemployed garment workers.

  • Vintage Jersey Homesteads Citizens
    originally this was mostly a listing of former residents who lived in the West and got together at least once a year, however we are now appending other former residents to this list. We invite other former residents throughout the world to contact the webmaster to have their contact info added to this list, so that it might be a valuable resource for residents wishing to keep in touch.
     
  • Modern Roosevelt the Roosevelt of today - our trials and our joys
     
  • Articles published stories and articles about aspects of Roosevelt, not just as an artist's community
     

For additional area cultural activities, you may wish to visit the The Community Art Program at The Peddie School (a popular venue for Roosevelt artists) that features regional, national, and international talents.

Also, for music fans, there are the nearby concerts organized by our friends at Outta Sights & Sounds. Please visit their website for the latest concert listings.

This site was conceived by Richard A. Lloyd,
developed by Richard A. Lloyd, David Herrstrom, and Brad Garton,
and maintained by webmasters Richard A. Lloyd, David Herrstrom and Brad Garton

Please check back often to see our latest additions and enhancements!
Thank you.

 

 

This page was last modified: 11 April 2008, by Richard Arthur Lloyd;
originally designed by R.A. Lloyd of Dream Weaver Productions