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 federal government.

1 Arrest background
2 Film
3 See also
4 External links

[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 for 22 hours under terrorism legislation and sealed off the block around his house. Dozens of agents in hazardous material suits sifted through his work and impounded many of his possessions as well as the body of his dead wife.

In July 2004 a grand jury refused to indict on any "terrorism" charges, but did indict Kurtz on federal criminal mail fraud and wire fraud charges, and he faces 20 years in jail for fraudulently obtaining biological microbes.

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

[edit] Film

The story of Kurtz is told in the film "Strange Culture" by film maker Lynn Hershman Leeson. The film was simultaneously screened and webcast to the Second Life game on January 22nd 2007.