Festival of the Arts features world-class talent

Sitarist Purbayan Chaterjee

Sacramento State will once again be home to a vibrant array of musicians, dancers, photographers and other artists during the University’s 14th annual Festival of the Arts, March 2 to 12. The 10-day celebration encompasses all facets of the arts at Sacramento State—music, theatre, dance, design, art, poetry and literature. This year’s festival will showcase a variety of performances, exhibits and concerts from artists across the globe.

Those interested in the visual arts can feast their eyes on exhibits such as “The Triumph of Helios: Photographic Treasures of the California State Library,” a rare and beautiful collection of photographs including daguerreotypes from the Gold Rush, some of the state’s first full-color photographs, and examples of 19th century photographic equipment. The exhibit will run from March 3 to June 24 in the University Library Gallery and Sacramento State Special Collections curator, Gary Kurutz, will speak about the exhibit at 6:30 p.m. on March 8 in the University Union’s Hinde Auditorium.

Acclaimed photographer Bill Owens will display his work from March 2 to 12 in the Design Gallery, Mariposa Hall 4000, and will lecture at 6 p.m. on March 9 in the Union’s Hinde Auditorium. His work, which illustrates the human condition in all its complexities, is in the collections of many institutions including SFMOMA, Los Angeles Museum of Modern Art, and San Jose Museum of Modern Art.

“Sac State Paints” will add a colorful energy to the festival, displaying artwork from students in the advanced painting course. The exhibit will be on display in the Raymond Witt Gallery in Kadema Hall from March 6 to 10. The gallery is open weekdays. For hours call (916) 278-6166.

Author of the upcoming book Nietzche’s Kisses, Lance Olsen, will read from his work at 7 p.m. on March 7 in the Union’s Hinde Auditorium. Award-winning poet Sharon Doubiago is also a feature of the festival. She will read from her work at 1 p.m. on March 3. The location is to be announced.

The festival also offers a range of impressive musicians like Vladimir Tarasov, a composer and musician from Lithuania, who has performed internationally and written music for orchestras, the theatre and film. His performance “Aleatoric Music for Percussion and Roulette,” will begin at 4 p.m. on March 7 in Capistrano Hall 151. Tarasov will discuss his work at 5:30 p.m. on March 9 in Mariposa Hall 1000. The music portion of the festival closes on Sunday, March 12, with a performance featuring a unusual duet of north Indian sitar and south Indian flute. Renowned flutist Shashank will be joined by sitarist Purbayan Chaterjee, in an evening performance beginning at 6 p.m. in the Music Recital Hall, Capistrano Hall.

Another highlight of the festival is Shakespeare’s The Tempest, directed by Sacramento State professor Gina Kaufmann and performed by Sacramento State students. The production is a quirky revamp of the traditional play along with witty characters and unique costumes. The Tempest runs to March 5 in the Playwrights’ Theatre. The department of theatre and dance will also welcome New Style Motherlode Dance Company, who will perform Juke Joint, a fusion of ballet, modern, jazz, and hip-hop styles in a funky urban mix. The performance runs from March 9 to 12 in Dancespace, Solano Hall 1010.

Tickets for the events are available through the Sacramento State Ticket Office at (916) 278-4323 or at Tickets.com. A complete listing of the University’s events is available at www.csus.edu/events.

— Megan Lloyd-Jones