With a sense of accomplishment, Michael Beam and Bradley Bullock view the artwork embellishing the floors and walls of the Vergette Gallery on the second floor of the Allyn Building.

Beam, a graduate student in painting and assistant curator of the University Museum, and Bullock, a senior in fine arts from Mt. Vernon, openly display their work in the Vergette Gallery for anyone to enjoy.

This is my fourth time displaying my work in the gallery, Bullock said. It (gallery) gives me a chance to display my art and challenge my viewers’ preconceived notions about what art is supposed to be.

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The space provides undergraduate artists a forum where students can gather and assess sculptures and paintings.

My creations push the boundaries of acceptable art, Beam said. When you walk into the gallery you can expect to see certain things and unique exhibitions.

For the duration of the week, Beam’s and Bullock’s art will be on display. One of Beam’s favorite sculpture displays in the gallery is the life-sized casts of his body parts.

I have a life-sized cast of my penis and other parts of me in a glass case, Beam said.

Vergette Gallery was dedicated May 3, 1978, in honor of Nicholas Vergette, who died in 1974. The gallery offers weekly displays of different SIUC students’ artwork.

Vergette was a professor of art at SIUC from 1960 until his death in 1974. Bob Paulson, director of the School of Art and Design, remembers Vergette when he came to SIUC in 1967.

He was a very passionate man and teacher, Paulson said. I can remember even at faculty meetings when he would become so passionate about (an issue) that tears would come to his eyes.

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When Vergette was dying of lung cancer he began work on his well-known campus sculpture titled Here. The sculpture is a 15-piece monument that Vergette self-created for future generations of SIUC students to enjoy. The sculpture is located south of Wham Education Building near Rehn Hall.

The sculpture is a site-specific site, Paulson said. He intended for the sculpture to mix with the topography.

Imagine viewing the site during night, or after a snowfall. The interpretations (of the sculpture) are endless.

Since the dedication of the gallery, uncountable artists have been afforded the opportunity to show off their talents and skills.

Reagan Gunn, a senior in art education from Moline and director of the Vergette Gallery, has overseen the gallery since fall 1996.

It’s not a big gallery and chances are if you aren’t (regularly) in the Allyn Building then you won’t see it, Gunn said.

Although the gallery is not as large as some others on campus, Bullock said he still enjoys having the opportunity to showcase his work.

From an artist’s standpoint, there is never enough room in an art gallery, he said. (Through the gallery) I have a chance to challenge the standards of artistic creation.