The Department of General Services (DGS) began the "Percent for Art" program in 2014, allocating a percent for art up to $500,000 for public art in its new construction. Working with local, national and international artists, DGS has commissioned sculptures, paintings, mosaics, suspended works of art, graphic designs and other forms of media for schools, shelters, office buildings and recreation centers. This has resulted in nearly 90 new works of art for the District in just two fiscal years.
Nearly 100 artists responded to the "Call to Artists" for Roosevelt. Eleven artists were selected by a panel that represented the community of Roosevelt, including teachers, art students, architect, project manager and other stakeholders. In addition, nearly 500 students came out to review each submission and cast their votes.
Roosevelt Sr. High School winning entries include the following artworks:
- Atrium (suspended sculpture in the main atrium) - Seth Palmiter
- Pool Viewing (abstract expressionist mosaic in its pool area) - Maxx Moses
- Arts Entrance (wood-carved relief) - local artist, Stanley Agbontean
- Historic Lobby Entrance (pen and ink illustration on wood) - local artist, Al Burts
- "Drip" Rain Gardern (outdoor sculptural installation to complement the rain garden) - Allison Sigethy
- "Rough Rider" (mascot at the new entrance of Roosevelt - Joanna Campbell Blake and another
- Historic Lobby Entrance (a bronze bust and exhibit of the life of Theodore Roosevelt) - local artist, Vinnie Bagwell
- Pavillion Entrance (suspended work at its Athletic and Vocational entrance) - Shan Shan Sheng
- Gym Acoustical Panels (panels for the gym and its entrance) - local artist, Luis Peralta
- Gym Historic Entrance (located in the historic gym lobby of Roosevelt) - Jack Pabis
- Sensory Garden - Brian Bush