[spectre] Support Steve Kurtz and the Critical Art Ensemble/ from CTheory

[oliver grau]

  Announcement:
  Support Steve Kurtz and the Critical Art Ensemble
  =================================================

      Dear CTheory Readers,

      We recently received the following news which is really
      disturbing in terms of civil rights and artistic freedom in the
      present political climate spawned by the so-called "War on
      Terrorism."

      We strongly encourage everyone to read the full announcement and
      to support Steve Kurtz and the Critical Art Ensemble.

      Arthur and Marilouise Kroker, Editors

  ====================================

  Dr. Steven Kurtz, professor of art at SUNY Buffalo and members of
  the Critical Arts Ensemble are facing indictment at a grand jury
  trial in Buffalo, NY, June 15.  The FBI is bringing bioterrorism
  charges against the group for possession of a biotechnology lab found
  at Kurtz's home.  Thus, the group will incur gigantic legal fees and
  face imprisonment.

  Dr. Kurtz and CAE are internationally recognized lecturers in the
  areas of biotechnology, information technology and media studies.
  Their work has always been anti-terrorist, that is, against fear as a
  cultural detriment to discussion. For more information and
  support, see:

  www.rtmark.com/CAEdefense/

  Louis Hillman

  ---------------------------------------------------------------------

  May 25, 2004

  FBI ABDUCTS ARTIST, SEIZES ART
  Feds Unable to Distinguish Art from Bioterrorism
  Grieving Artist Denied Access to Deceased Wife's Body

       ______________________________________________________
       |                                                    |
       |       HELP URGENTLY NEEDED FOR LEGAL DEFENSE       |
       |                                                    |
       |    For donations contact: CAEdefense at rtmark.com    |
       |                                                    |
       |____________________________________________________|

  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.


  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>.

  _____________________________________________________________________

  *
  * CTHEORY is an international journal of theory, technology and
  *    culture. Articles, interviews, and key book reviews in
  *    contemporary discourse are published weekly as well as
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  * Editors: Arthur and Marilouise Kroker
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  *   Pfohl (Boston), Andrew Ross (NYC), David Cook (Toronto), Ralph
  *   Melcher (Sante Fe), Shannon Bell (Toronto), Gad Horowitz
  *   (Toronto), Andrew Wernick (Peterborough).
  *
  * In Memory: Kathy Acker
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