Steve Kurtz

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Steve Kurtz is a member of the performance art group, Critical Art Ensemble. He is primarily known for his work in Bio-art, and because of his arrest by the FBI in May 2004. Because Kurtz's work often deals with social criticism, many see his treatment by authorities as a form of censorship by the Bush administration.

[edit] Arrest background

Kurtz first aroused the suspicion of authorities in May 2004 when he called 911 to report the death of his wife Hope Kurtz by heart failure. For his creation of art installations he regularly worked with biological specimens and had a diverse array of scientific instruments scattered about his house. Local law enforcement became wary of Kurtz' intentions, and notified the FBI who detained Kurtz without charge under terrorism legislation and sealed off the block around his house.

His detention was deemed to be illegal the next day, although dozens of agents in hazardous material suits sifted through his work and impounded many of his possessions as well as his dead wife.

In July 2004 a grand jury rejected any "terrorism" charges, but Kurtz is still charged with federal criminal mail and wire fraud (charges frequently used against political dissidents such as Marcus Garvey) and faces 20 years in jail. Legal observers note that this is a precedent-setting case with far-reaching implications involving the criminalization of speech and expression for artists, scientists, researchers, and others. In October 2005 charges were still pending.

Kurtz is an associate professor of art at the University at Buffalo, a state university in Buffalo, New York.