Flutters, 1999, is a pivotal work that engages with the emergent scientific landscape of the late 1990s, specifically addressing a breakthrough method for detecting unstable genes and inherited disorders across generations. Executed in silk, painted masonite, and mixed media, the artwork serves as a visual metaphor for the dynamic nature of genetic instability. 

Conceptually, the piece centers on the significance of repeated microsatellites—the sequences crucial for identifying individual genetic variants and establishing linkage mapping for disorders within families. The work’s relevance extends into contemporary research, underscoring the ongoing importance of these sequences in fields like cancer and immunotherapy, gene regulation, and forensics. 

Visually, Flutters employs curved, evocative strokes that suggest rapid, organic motion, capturing the ephemeral nature of cellular activity, akin to a flutter or palpitation. Diffused light is strategically utilized to pass through the delicate mark-making, creating a sense of movement and airiness. These elusive lines subtly connect through downward veils of nearly transparent staining, articulating the delicate and elusive pathways of genetic inheritance and expression.

Collections:

Collection of Laura Lee Brown and Steve Wilson