ROOSEVELT — Artists and craftspeople in the western Monmouth County borough of Roosevelt will open their studios to the public from noon to 5 p.m. Nov. 16.
Before visiting the artists’ studios, guests are invited into the Roosevelt Public School for a presentation about the historic Roosevelt fresco mural created by artist Ben Shahn. The day is sponsored by the Roosevelt Arts Project (RAP).
Roosevelt was created as a New Deal resettlement community by the administration of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The new municipality was named Jersey Homesteads. It was subsequently renamed for the president.
This year, some of Roosevelt’s artists are opening their studios to the public for a preholiday show and sale. Participants include visual artists Barbara Atwood, Naomi Brahinsky, Gary Edelstein, Sheila Linz, Jill Lipoti, Heidi Monteleone, Pat Monteleone and Ellen Silverman.
Works on view and for sale include paintings, drawings, sculptures, fine woodworking, pottery and photography.
The event will begin at 11 a.m. at the Roosevelt Public School, School Lane, off Route 571, where Alan Mallach will speak about the school’s 45-foot-long fresco mural created in 1937 by Shahn, who was a resident of the community.
The mural depicts the life of Jewish immigrants coming to America in the 1930s.
Visitors are invited to walk or drive around town to visit the artists’ studios from noon to 5 p.m. Studio maps will be available at the Roosevelt Public School. A donation of $5 is recommended.
Maps can be found at www.rooseveltartsproject.org. For more information, call 609-443-1898.