As for whether Kurtz’s work is “art” or not. . . well, do you really want COPS deciding what constitutes “art”? It is not hyperbole to point out that that is EXACTLY what went on in both Nazi Germany, and the USSR.

I completely agree with you. I would have been a lot harder on “Steve” but thanks for summing up my thoughts in a non-confrontational manner.

@Mr. Kurtz, thank you for being such an courageous and inspirational artist.

[...] Dianne Raeke Ferrell, Ph.D [...]

Wow, maybe they should add a spelling test section to thesis defenses.
How many grant applications do you get approved?

What has resulted is a travesty that has taken on a life of its own. The $ spent on pursuing this case could have been used to fight “real” terrorism. Despite the Patriot Act and extending Bush’s powers this past summer, this is still a rediculous case that has taken over our lives. Unfornuately, it has gone on for over 3 years, The US attorney need s to stop the nonsense now: but professionals believe that he has made such an enourmous deal of this case, that dropping the charges would seriously be a detriment to his politacal asperations and ego.

It is time to “quitely” drop all charges and move on, Mr. Hochul. Pursue issues that are truely a detriment to our lives and livelihood.

“STOP THIS MADNESS NOW”

Dianne Raeke Ferrell, Ph.D.

Steve Kurtz & Critical Art Ensemble are internationally-acclaimed artists. Their writings have been translated into at least 16 languages, they have been covered by most of the major art journals, and they are regularly invited around the world to perform in museums and other cultural institutions. They have been exhibiting and performing work like this concerning biotechnology for over a decade with absolutely no risk to the public.

Their projects are recognized by artists, scientists, and institutions worldwide as thorough, investigative, educative and safe.

CAE was NOT doing the re-creations — or any of their work — with the intent to scare anyone — in fact quite the opposite. They were doing this particular re-creation using harmless bacteria in an unbelievably remote location (The Isle of Lewis, Scotland, where the original tests were done) and made a film about it to show in galleries and museums, in order (as in all their work) to educate, and in this case, to dispel some of the fear surrounding bioterrorism which has been greatly exaggerated and is based on incomplete awareness of the facts:

http://www.artscatalyst.org/projects/biotech/caeplague.html

The indictment is on Steve Kurtz defense fund site for all to read:

http://caedefensefund.org

… as are extensive details about the charges and what this case means for all Americans’ First Amendment rights.

I’m assuming you didn’t even bother reading the articles to make comments like these.

QUOTE:

Give me a break… This is a no-brainer.

“…projects which explore and critique bio-issues like our contemporary use of biotechnology for weapons programs, reproduction, and food…”

He *deserved* to be detained, and he shouldn’t get an apology. Period. If you’re making “art” that is SUPPOSED to look like bio-weaponry, then you are taking a risk. *Of course* the government is going to investigate what it is! Give me a break. How the h*ll is the FBI supposed to know that this guy is an “artist”, and why should they care? All they see are a bunch of things that look dangerous… that’s their JOB, for crying out loud.

END QUOTE.

Alright maybe your right, maybe he did deserve to be obtained and questioned for 22 hours. Then maybe it was justified to go and raid his house. After which it was found that none of the bacteria was harmful. Ok so then what? I’ll tell you what, you let the guy go and get on with grieving for his poor dead wife. I think at that point there was no reason to keep the ruse going, the DoJ should have dropped the charges and gone on their merry way.

Honestly I think his artistic experiments are justified and compelling. He is more inclined to use his harmless bacteria experiments to shed light on some of the much more dangerous, erroneous, and appalling real life equivalents that have actually happened, and who else besides me thinks it’s a good idea to test whether organic food is truly free of GMO’s?

Obviously his work is diverse and probably a good counter-point for Today’s exceedingly excitable and “terrified” culture. He was not working in his basement trying to build a weaponized anthrax missile, he was simply shedding light on the use of bacteria in everyday life, in all spectrums of society.

“…projects which explore and critique bio-issues like our contemporary use of biotechnology for weapons programs, reproduction, and food…”

He *deserved* to be detained, and he shouldn’t get an apology. Period. If you’re making “art” that is SUPPOSED to look like bio-weaponry, then you are taking a risk. *Of course* the government is going to investigate what it is! Give me a break. How the h*ll is the FBI supposed to know that this guy is an “artist”, and why should they care? All they see are a bunch of things that look dangerous… that’s their JOB, for crying out loud.

http://www.brainonfire.net/2007/09/24/led-art-suspicion-and-a-girl/

Yes, David ( a fat, balding, mid-50’s ohioan who created “ART” as company to promote selling himself as a speaker) deems himself worthy of judging other peoples actions.

Interestingly enough, the object in question was made by the student to “attract attention at a job fair”. It was a small electronic sign, mounted on her sweatshirt. so David has made at least two mistakes. A she never submitted the object to any art show, she never intended it as “art”. it was an attention getting device. probably to show of her creative technical prowess and thereby attract potential technology companies to offer her employment. Like an electronic business card.

The second mistake as calling it a “bomb”. It didn’t look like a bomb. (Yes I saw the pictures of it). (Note to America - A just because an object has wires and a battery coming out of it doesn’t mean its a bomb, second Note - If someone were making a bomb they would make darn sure it looked like something that was not a bomb, no wires hanging out, no battery hanging off. Duh. )

Homemade bombs tend to look bulkier, and are usually (when outside their “disguise package) bulky, (not a thin rectangle as this device was), and garnished in nails, glass or other things that will do all kinds of nasty damage to humans when the explosion occurs. Little light emitting diodes
are not that kind of thing. :-)

The attempt by the Boston police to rationlize their actions by calling it a “hoax device” is completely uneeded. They did their job. They collected the device and determined it true nature: “Not a Bomb”. They protected the public. Good Job.

But then they attempted to rationalize their actions with a lie. First of all, no rationalization is needed. some one at the airport reported a suspicous device and the Boston PD investigated as was their duty.

But to go and claim that this student was attempting to terrorize the public with this device is so obviously false its almost laughable. In fact it would be laughable except for the level of incompetence and stupidity it shows that the Boston police are operating by.

Frankly, I find that terrifying.