Story by: Tyler Hernandez, Staff Writer
Photo by: Greg Simon, Staff Photographer
Cypress College’s TE-1 building hosted an artist lecture and gallery walkthrough on April 16, 2026.
The featured photographer was Arnoldo Vargas, during the event, Vargas shared insights about his life and discussed the photographs displayed in the building.
“In 1993 I picked up my first camera,” Vargas said.
Prior to taking his first photography class, Vargas had never used a camera before. The class inspired him to work hard and invest in a camera so he could begin his journey with photography.
Most of his projects were captured with a 35mm lens and in black and white. It was not until after his schooling that he began using a wider lens.
His featured project, Mosaic, is one of the few that were captured in color.
Vargas also recounted a significant moment in his career. On November 2nd 1994, a large protest occurred on Cypress campus, and Vargas appeared during the protest to capture and document it.
He captured images of both protestors and the police brutality that unfolded. However, after the police noticed him, he was arrested.
“When I got arrested, I went over to my photography teacher, [to take photos of me]” Vargas said.
His teacher then took photos of the situation as it unfolded.
The photos on display featured people from Vargas’ everyday life and highlighted the protests that affected them.
According to Vargas, Mosaic was created because “I wanted art that looked back at you, and forced you to see that these people exist.”
