While many artists spend every day in a constant search for inspiration, Steve Nguyen’s inspiration found him.

Not until I spent five months in Austria did my interest in the Holocaust actually surface, Nguyen, a senior in art from Freeport, said. It interested me enough to become the central focus of my latest artwork.

Nguyen’s latest artwork is a collection of dark and disturbing paintings depicting the concentration camp experiences of Holocaust victims.

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Nguyen’s Holocaust artwork, as well as the artwork of 20 other students in Val Oliver’s Art and Design 301:Intermediate Oil Painting, is on display in the Vergette Gallery in the Allyn Building until 4:30 p.m. today.

Oliver, a visiting instructor in the School of Art and Design from Carbondale, said the exhibit is an excellent opportunity for her students to gain vital experience.

For some of my students, this is the first time that they have had artwork displayed in an exhibition, Oliver said. It’s a facet of the art world that they will have to become familiar with.

Having invited all 23 of her students to showcase their artwork, Oliver stressed that the entire exhibit was democratic in nature.

The exhibit is highly non-competitive, Oliver said. It’s not a contest. It is a chance for everyone to present their work to the public.

Oliver said she can not overemphasize the quality of her students’ work.

I am not just saying this because it is my class, Oliver said, but there is a definite abundance of very strong talent here.

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Louis Papadakis, a member of Oliver’s class with artwork on display, expressed his appreciation for the non-competitive format of the exhibit.

For me it’s not important to have my work recognized as the best, Papadakis, a junior in art from Glenview, said. The exhibit is important because we all gain exposure.

For another artist, Brian Kite, the exhibit serves as a real learning experience.

Most importantly, I can compare my work to fellow artists in the exhibit to see how good my work is and to figure out how I can improve, Kite, a junior in fine arts from Hickory Hills, said.

Nguyen describes the public response to the exhibit as favorable.

The general feedback has been very positive, Nguyen said. We are pleased by various comments from people at the exhibit and around campus.

Although Oliver confirms the positive response, she said she would like to expand the resources of the exhibit.

While we are grateful to have the chance to run the exhibit at all, I would like, in the future, to be able to accommodate more than one class of students with one of the larger display rooms on campus, she said.

But for Oliver, the most personally rewarding aspect of the exhibit is witnessing the payoff of a semester’s hard work.

I couldn’t be more proud of my students and all of their dedication this semester, Oliver said. Their hard work is a real affirmation of their desire and artistic talents, as well as my own ability as their instructor.

The Art and Design 301 class will have its art exhibited until 4:30 p.m. today at the Vergette Gallery in the Allyn Building.