[spectre] International Support Letter for Steven Kurtz / CAE
mollybh at netspace.net.au
mollybh at netspace.net.au
Thu Jun 3 03:12:43 CEST 2004
Barbara,
I guess we are back to the question Eric asked.
Do we draft a letter and circulate it for others to read.
I've been reading posts from women outside the US, and I feel
there would be really strong support from everyone overseas, if such a
letter were drafted.
Thanks for your comments and suggestions.
Molly
Quoting Barbara Lattanzi <threads at wildernesspuppets.net>:
> At 05:16 AM 6/2/2004, you wrote:
> >Hi, Eric and Barbara,
> >I had thought we might start, considering the networked properties of the
> CAE
> >work and probability that we had read their writings and books and had
> >them on
> >our shelves...that we could start a site or a list of artists who claim
> also
> >to be collaborators! How many people can those m*th*rs work on at once? :')
> >Molly
>
> Hi Molly.
>
> I think that the solidarity of a letter would be a strong place to
> start. But the simple naming of people as collaborators might be
> problematic, since it is not true until it's true. (In the U.S. we are
> dealing with enough public fictions these days I think)
>
> Instead, your suggestion of a discussion list devoted to CAE's work might
> be useful as a way to (1) exchange ideas about underlying issues, (2)
> publically promote CAE work, and (3) pool info in resisting government
> harrassment of anyone involved in developing "open source" cultural
> tools/tactics for understanding and engaging biotechnology outside its
> neoliberal industrial frame.
>
> About my 2nd point on that list... I am not sure what that means - maybe
> just trying to get CAE more gigs, reviews, publications, whatever... plus
> integrating their work into school study material in whatever number of
> forms that a teacher can invent.
>
> Barbara
>
> ----------------------------
> Barbara Lattanzi
> www.wildernesspuppets.net
>
>
>
>
>
>
> >Quoting Barbara Lattanzi <threads at wildernesspuppets.net>:
> >
> > > Hello Eric.
> > >
> > > I think that you are right on target with the initiative you suggest.
> > >
> > > I also suggest that many more people linking to the biotech materials on
> > > the CAE website, plus absorbing deeply and spreading understanding of
> and
> > > enthusiasm for CAE's work - like a seeds in the wind - will be the most
> > > effective gesture of all.
> > >
> > > http://www.critical-art.net/
> > >
> > >
> > > Barbara Lattanzi
> > > www.wildernesspuppets.net
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > At 05:32 PM 6/1/2004, you wrote:
> > > >Dear friends,
> > > >
> > > >Is anybody already working on a support letter for Steven Kurtz?
> > > >
> > > >Maybe we orverlooked the most obvious way to help at this point, which
> is
> > > >to provide an international letter, signed by a list of internationally
> > > >acclaimed curators, writers, critics, artists, and anybody else out
> there
> > > >who has a direct and professional relationship to the work of Steven
> > Kurtz
> > > >and the Critical Art Ensemble.
> > > >
> > > >More information on the support campaign can at this point be found at
> > the
> > > >following web page:
> > > >http://www.rtmark.com/CAEdefense/
> > > >
> > > >How do we write the letter - do we circulate a draft letter
> > publically, or
> > > >in small committee?
> > > >
> > > >Best wishes,
> > > >
> > > >Eric Kluitenberg
> > > >De Balie - Centre for Culture and Politics, Amsterdam
> > > >http://www.debalie.nl
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >------------------
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >May 25, 2004
> > > >FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
> > > >
> > > >FBI ABDUCTS ARTIST, SEIZES ART
> > > >Feds Unable to Distinguish Art from Bioterrorism
> > > >Grieving Artist Denied Access to Deceased Wife's Body
> > > >
> > > > DEFENSE FUND ESTABLISHED - HELP URGENTLY NEEDED
> > > >
> > > >Steve Kurtz was already suffering from one tragedy when he called 911
> > > >early in the morning to tell them his wife had suffered a cardiac
> arrest
> > > >and died in her sleep. The police arrived and, cranked up on the
> rhetoric
> > > >of the "War on Terror," decided Kurtz's art supplies were actually
> > > >bioterrorism weapons.
> > > >
> > > >Thus began an Orwellian stream of events in which FBI agents abducted
> > > >Kurtz without charges, sealed off his entire block, and confiscated his
> > > >computers, manuscripts, art supplies... and even his wife's body.
> > > >
> > > >Like the case of Brandon Mayfield, the Muslim lawyer from Portland
> > > >imprisoned for two weeks on the flimsiest of false evidence, Kurtz's
> case
> > > >amply demonstrates the dangers posed by the USA PATRIOT Act coupled
> with
> > > >government-nurtured terrorism hysteria.
> > > >
> > > >Kurtz's case is ongoing, and, on top of everything else, Kurtz is facing
> a
> > > >mountain of legal fees. Donations to his legal defense can be made at
> > > >http://www.rtmark.com/CAEdefense/
> > > >
> > > >FEAR RUN AMOK
> > > >
> > > >Steve Kurtz is Associate Professor in the Department of Art at the
> State
> > > >University of New York's University at Buffalo, and a member of the
> > > >internationally-acclaimed Critical Art Ensemble.
> > > >
> > > >Kurtz's wife, Hope Kurtz, died in her sleep of cardiac arrest in the
> early
> > > >morning hours of May 11. Police arrived, became suspicious of Kurtz's
> art
> > > >supplies and called the FBI.
> > > >
> > > >Within hours, FBI agents had "detained" Kurtz as a suspected
> bioterrorist
> > > >and cordoned off the entire block around his house. (Kurtz walked away
> the
> > > >next day on the advice of a lawyer, his "detention" having proved to be
> > > >illegal.) Over the next few days, dozens of agents in hazmat suits, from
> a
> > > >number of law enforcement agencies, sifted through Kurtz's work,
> analyzing
> > > >it on-site and impounding computers, manuscripts, books, equipment, and
> > > >even his wife's body for further analysis. Meanwhile, the Buffalo
> Health
> > > >Department condemned his house as a health risk.
> > > >
> > > >Kurtz, a member of the Critical Art Ensemble, makes art which addresses
> > > >the politics of biotechnology. "Free Range Grains," CAE's latest
> project,
> > > >included a mobile DNA extraction laboratory for testing food products
> for
> > > >possible transgenic contamination. It was this equipment which
> triggered
> > > >the Kafkaesque chain of events.
> > > >
> > > >FBI field and laboratory tests have shown that Kurtz's equipment was
> not
> > > >used for any illegal purpose. In fact, it is not even _possible_ to use
> > > >this equipment for the production or weaponization of dangerous germs.
> > > >Furthermore, any person in the US may legally obtain and possess such
> > > >equipment.
> > > >
> > > >"Today, there is no legal way to stop huge corporations from putting
> > > >genetically altered material in our food," said Defense Fund
> spokeswoman
> > > >Carla Mendes. "Yet owning the equipment required to test for the
> presence
> > > >of 'Frankenfood' will get you accused of 'terrorism.' You can be
> illegally
> > > >detained by shadowy government agents, lose access to your home, work,
> and
> > > >belongings, and find that your recently deceased spouse's body has been
> > > >taken away for 'analysis.'"
> > > >
> > > >Though Kurtz has finally been able to return to his home and recover
> his
> > > >wife's body, the FBI has still not returned any of his equipment,
> > > >computers or manuscripts, nor given any indication of when they will.
> The
> > > >case remains open.
> > > >
> > > >HELP URGENTLY NEEDED
> > > >
> > > >A small fortune has already been spent on lawyers for Kurtz and other
> > > >Critical Art Ensemble members. A defense fund has been established at
> > > >http://www.rtmark.com/CAEdefense/ to help defray the legal costs which
> > > >will continue to mount so long as the investigation continues.
> Donations
> > > >go directly to the legal defense of Kurtz and other Critical Art
> Ensemble
> > > >members. Should the funds raised exceed the cost of the legal defense,
> any
> > > >remaining money will be used to help other artists in need.
> > > >
> > > >To make a donation, please visit http://www.rtmark.com/CAEdefense/
> > > >
> > > >For more information on the Critical Art Ensemble, please visit
> > > >http://www.critical-art.net/
> > > >
> > > >Articles about the case:
> > > >http://www.rtmark.com/CAEdefense/news-WKBW-2.html
> > > >http://www.rtmark.com/CAEdefense/news-WKBW.html
> > > >
> > > >On advice of counsel, Steve Kurtz is unable to answer questions
> regarding
> > > >his case. Please direct questions or comments to Carla Mendes
> > > ><CAEdefense at rtmark.com>.
> > > >
> > > >______________________________________________
> > > >SPECTRE list for media culture in Deep Europe
> > > >Info, archive and help:
> > > >http://coredump.buug.de/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/spectre
> > >
> > > ______________________________________________
> > > SPECTRE list for media culture in Deep Europe
> > > Info, archive and help:
> > > http://coredump.buug.de/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/spectre
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >------------------------------------------------------------
> >This email was sent from Netspace Webmail: http://www.netspace.net.au
>
>
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