Stephen F. Austin State University

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - Visitors to the Cockrell Butterfly Center of the Houston Museum of Natural Science expect to see hundreds of live butterflies in a natural setting, various species of arthropod housed in the Insect Zoo and thousands of preserved specimens of butterflies, moths and other insects in the Brown Hall of Entomology.

What they probably don't expect to see is a juried exhibition of artwork by Stephen F. Austin State University art students that was inspired by a lecture on the Sphingidae Family of moths common to East Texas. But, there, hanging in one of the most heavily attended museums in the United States, are drawings, paintings and jewelry by nine SFA students, said Chad Erpelding, SFA assistant professor of art.

The exhibition is the result of a collaborative project begun by Erpelding and Dr. William Godwin, entomologist in the SFA Department of Biology, to create a way for the SFA art and science communities to work together.

After attending Godwin's lecture on the biology/characteristics of the Sphingidae, or sphinx, moths, SFA art students were invited to submit artwork that was somehow inspired by the moths' behavior or biology.

"I wanted our art students to work with a metaphor and to see that two separate fields are not as different as one would suspect," said Erpelding.

The results, according to Erpelding, were impressive. "It was very exciting to see work from students that was consistent with their style/voice but broadened to incorporate the subject."

The jury, which consisted of Erpelding, Godwin, and Carolyn Spears, director of the Stone Fort Museum, selected nine pieces for the show. A donation from Dr. William Gibson, SFA professor of biology, enabled the jury to award cash prizes to the top three winners.

Carolyn McIntyre Norton, Lufkin graduate student, won first place for her ink on paper "Sonic Defense." Margaret Pledger, Brenham senior, won second place for her copper "Pupa Ring," and Chad Hines, Temple graduate student, won third place for his mixed media "Sphingidae."

Other students whose work is included in the exhibition are Lufkin graduate student Richard Carnley, Henderson senior Shelia Dunphy, Brenham junior Kristina Grauke, Dallas senior Kevin Owens, Mesquite junior Gillian Rhodes and Victoria junior Jessica Staley.

The exhibition, which will run through the end of September, brings an artistic interpretation to scientific exhibitions within the Cockrell Butterfly Center, said Godwin. "It allows the public to see insects in a different way, to see beauty that they would not have recognized before."

Goodwin added that he is particularly excited about the exposure the exhibition is getting.

According to the museum's Web site, the number of visitors to the museum places it in "the distinguished company of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the American Museum of Natural History, both in New York City."

For information on the museum's hours and admission costs, please visit www.hmns.org or call (713) 639-4629.