MAKING A LIVING AS AN ARTIST IN ROOSEVELT

Many Roosevelt residents supported themselves by working for corporate clients including behemoth companies like Standard Oil and Disney. Shahn had a particularly strong relationship with CBS for whom he produced advertising materials.

Through magazines, adwork, and album covers, the work of Roosevelt artists made their way into the cultural mainstream. The illustrations and photographs of several Roosevelt artists graced the covers and pages of magazines like Fortune, Scientific American, TIME, LIFE, Mademoiselle, and Ladies Home Journal. David Stone Martin designed over 400 album covers and became visually linked with American jazz greats like Ella Fitzgerald and Charlie Parker.

A COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITY

Working in studios located within walking distance of one another, allowed for frequent visits between Roosevelt artists. Inspired by one another’s work, artists learned from each other and collaborated across disciplines

For example, Sol Libsohn photographed Jacob Landau, who illustrated a book of poetry by David Herrstrom, who wrote the libretto for The Outlaw and the King by Roosevelt resident Mark Zuckerman. Stefan Martin, a student of Ben Shahn, produced many wood engravings of Shahn’s drawings. 

SINGING OUT IN ROOSEVELT 

Folk singer Mike Seeger (half-brother of folk legend and social activist Pete Seeger) moved to Roosevelt in 1961 with the help of Ralph Rinzler, head of the Smithsonian Folklife program. Famous folk musicians visited the Seeger home and recorded music, often in the school auditorium. Elizabeth “Libba” Cotten, Dock Boggs, and Pete Seeger were among these artists.

Paul Prestopino (the son of Elizabeth Dauber and Gregorio Prestopino) is a musician, and has backed Peter, Paul, and Mary and the Chad Mitchell Trio. Paul has played with local band Hold The Mustard since its formation in 1980, as well as the Roosevelt String Band which was founded by David Brahinsky in 1987. Other musical groups in town include the Tin Pan Handlers and the Woe Nellies.