Photographer Abe Morell is one of several photographers who will appear at the annual Festival of the Arts to teach and give insight for Sacramento State students.

Department of Design Chair Sharmon Goff said Morell’s photographs invite the viewer to explore many-layered interior architectural spaces in a way which involves the viewer in the fascinating visual details and surprises.

“When photographers such as Abe Morell visit Sac State, students get an unusual firsthand experience with the artist. Finding out about artwork directly from those who have created the pieces is both more exciting and informative than hearing about the work from an instructor in a classroom setting,” Goff said.

Goff said the photography program is grateful to Morell for being willing to share his images and his thoughts about creating his photographs.

The Festival of the Arts will have its 17th annual event today through Saturday, which the departments of art, design, music, theatre, creative writing and dance will all participate in.

Each of the five departments will have a four-day focus that will have a presentation or exhibition about their most popular work.

The Sac State library gallery is now hosting photographs from photographer of the year and Pulitzer Prize winner David Hume Kennerly. Library gallery assistant Leslie Rivers said the university is honored to house his work and showcase the several never-before-seen pictures of President Barack Obama’s inauguration.

Rivers said the gallery has been preparing for the festival for months. They have been working selecting and setting up several pictures that were chosen by the gallery to display during the festival.

Rivers said the purpose of the festival is to invite community members to come and get involved with Sac State. Rivers wants people outside the campus to consider Sac State as their community resource for entertainment.

“I think last year, from the gallery perspective that the number of people who come from outside in the community grows every year mainly because of the festival,” Rivers said.

Dean of the College of Arts and Letters Jeffrey Mason said the purpose of the festival is to offer an example of the best work we do in the arts bringing together efforts by the students, faculty and guest artists.

“The various departments run around over 300 events each year as part of their routine, so the festival permits us to bring those programs into the tight focus,” Mason said.

This year there are four poets invited to the festival. Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer David Kennerly, and installation artist Alice Aycock are just a few, Mason said.

“Our own students and faculty make different choices every year. All of these choices make the festival better I like to think of it as maintaining the high quality and sense of excitement that we create every year,” Mason said.

Senior art history major Stephanie Nemeth has been interning at the library gallery since last year and she received the opportunity to help prepare the rehearsals for the guest artists invited to the festival.

Nemeth said she feels really proud and honored to help with this year’s festival. She will be setting up and making this festival an enjoyable place for students and others who come.

Only the best are chosen to have their work in the gallery exhibit and Kennerly is one of the best photojournalists there is, Nemeth said.

“I consider this a good a opportunity for the school to support the art and get people more involved with what the school has offer,” Nemeth said.

Karina Yepez can be reached at [email protected].