Cornell’s undergraduate entomology club, Snodwiggs, hosted a Butterfly Micrography workshop with the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences’ first artist in residence, Andrea Strongwater ’70, on Feb. 25.
The workshop focused on intersecting art and entomology, providing attendees with a new perspective on the ecological and morphological significance of butterflies through micrography — the art of using words to create designs or images. Strongwater discussed aspects of Jewish faith, conservation, personal expression and storytelling in her artistic endeavors, ultimately striving to bring bugs into participants' daily lives through this workshop.
Strongwater began the workshop by discussing micrography and its historical significance in Jewish culture. She provided examples of micrography that originally appeared in the margins of religious manuscripts. These images were made up of tiny Hebrew letters that formed geometric shapes, animals, plants and Biblical scenes. This style was intended to visually enhance and preserve Biblical texts while combining Jewish religious tradition with artistic expression. She then displayed her depiction of the Karner blue butterfly, an endangered species, created in a micrographic style. Within the details of the butterfly, she incorporated words about its taxonomy, geographic range and diet.
Following Strongwater’s introduction, each attendee of the workshop created their own micrographic butterfly using the specimens from Cornell's Insect Collection as references. This offered students the opportunity to learn more about a butterfly of their choice while focusing on the intricacies of its form through drawing. By incorporating words within their artwork, students were able to communicate information about taxonomy or biology that would not be initially apparent in the mere shape of the butterfly.
Merging scientific observation with artistic expression deeply resonates with Strongwater’s personal journey. She recalled how her fascination with insects began in high school, drawn to their intricate beauty and finding them not only visually captivating but also a joy to capture through art.
“I want people to fall in love with them the same way I do, and I try to get as much detail as possible,” Strongwater said. “I like detail, and I like doing the micrographic thing because I discovered when you're an artist it's very hard to make people pay attention to your art. I found it with that butterfly, the Karner blue butterfly, everybody reads it.”
Strongwater noticed that people tend to engage more with her artwork when it is created in a micrographic style. The style is not only visually appealing — it also promotes curiosity among viewers.
“[The viewers] want to know why I put this information there and why,” said Strongwater. “So for me, it's a really good educational tool, and I think people connect with it in a way that they may not connect to a lot of other things.”
Strongwater not only tells a story through her artwork, but also uses it to spread conservation awareness. By bringing attention to the intricacies of insects in her artwork, she encourages people to make bugs a part of their lives and to become more aware of broader environmental issues.
Reflecting on her own experiences, Strongwater vividly recalls a moment when she noticed a decline in the usual number of insects that she encountered while driving into Ithaca.
“Halfway here, we would have to stop the car and clean the windshield because there were so many bugs, but it doesn't happen anymore. So the question is, where are they and why are they gone?” Strongwater said.
Entomology major and Snodwiggs member Brendan Lan ’25 explained that Snodwiggs aims “to increase awareness of entomology to the public and to people at Cornell, and grow a community within the entomology department and everyone else who's interested in insects or invertebrate research.”
As a member of the club since his freshman year and a former officer, Lan has observed the club’s growth in welcoming non-entomology majors — a quality that he greatly appreciates.
To support their mission, Snodwiggs organized this workshop to provide students who are interested in insects an opportunity to explore this fascination further and learn about science communication and storytelling through an artistic lens.
Through the Butterfly Micrography workshop, Strongwater communicated the critical need to bridge the gap between art and science. By seamlessly integrating educational insights about the insect’s vital role in ecosystems into her detailed artwork, micrography becomes more than just a creative expression; it serves as a powerful tool for fostering deeper awareness, inspiring individuals to not only appreciate the beauty of insects but to also recognize the urgent need to protect them.
“I'm always trying to tell a story. So that's kind of what I do. And it has to be beautiful, because I feel that you don't get people to look at it unless it's compelling,” Strongwater said.
