Daniel Stephens

Student Gallery

The Daniel Stephens Student Gallery is a student-run exhibition space in the Art Department at Cypress College dedicated to exhibiting student artwork. The gallery was established in Spring 2014 to honor Dan's 40 years of service to the Cypress College Art Department. 

The Closest Thing to Feeling Free

Paintings and Drawings by Noel Espinoza

 March 5–April 10, 2020

“Making art is a therapy that I found is unlike any other. Through this medium of expression, I have explored the multidimensionality of the Self; channeled what my dreams and subconscious are always drumming in the background and given it tangible form. It is a continuous practice of trance and surrender. The less I think during the process, the more the subconscious stream works through me. It is the closest thing to feeling free.”

Noel Espinoza’s work has been exhibited at the Cypress College Students’ Show (2019), where he received First Prize recognition from the Cypress Art League, and Honorable Mention; along with a Second Place award from the Art Supply Warehouse Certificate. He has been featured in Cypress College's Sole Image Student Word and Image Magazine. One of his drawings was also featured in the California State University Dominguez Hills student-curated show Underrated, 2018. Installation photograph by Denise Laube.

HEATING UP

November 21–December 5, 2019

Curated by Rochelle Villaroel and Paul Scott 

Heating Up brings visitors directly into the ongoing protests against climate change and environmental disasters. Inspiration for the exhibition came from climate activist Greta Thunberg, age 16, who gave a speech at the U.N. Climate Summit in New York City on September 23, 2019. Her passionate speech led to thousands of people, including many school children, walking out of classrooms to march for change around the globe. The signs presented in the exhibition are direct recreations from those protests, brought to life by the students of Gallery Studies here at Cypress College.

The video projected on the back wall, which begins with Greta’s moving speech of September 23, 2019, was edited by film professor Ian Holmes. Following her speech, clips from Adams Family Values are overlaid with scenes of Native Americans and the injustices thrust upon an entire nation and its native people. Then a Native American man shares his perspective on the Dakota Access Pipeline and the environmental threat it poses. This footage transitions into a short clip of some simple actions that can be taken to make a lasting beneficial impact on the planet. Finally, Leonardo DiCaprio shares some thoughts on the climate crisis and Greta Thunberg’s activism. 

The Climate Crisis arises from drastic changes to the Earth’s climate. Just a one degree raise in temperature can set off dangerous domino effects that have the ability to wipe out entire species. The posters that surround you in this exhibition represent the global protests for unity in active change against the dangerous effects of the climate crisis. Recognition of this very real issue, which impacts everyone and everything on the planet, is just the first step in making lasting effects. Switching to reusable products (such as reusable bags, bottles, and straws) and recycling easy waysto to make a positive change, and can save money, and the planet!