Art in a Time of Terror: Acclaimed Art Professor Steve Kurtz on How He Became a "Bioterrorism" Suspect

Steve Kurtz is a professor of visual studies at SUNY, Buffalo and a founding member of the award-winning art and theater group, Critical Art ensemble. On May 11, 2004 his wife Hope Kurtz tragically died in her sleep. When he called 911 for help, a nightmare that would last for the next 4 years began to unfold.

The police became suspicious of his art supplies and harmless bacteria cultures that he was using for an anti-war project about the public health impact of germ warfare programs. Kurtz was detained as a suspected bioterrorist and his home was raided by the FBI, the Joint Terrorism Task Force, and Homeland Security. His belongings, his cat, and even his wife"s body were seized.

After a federal grand jury refused to charge Kurtz with bioterrorism, Kurtz and his colleague Robert Ferrell of the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health were charged with federal mail and wire fraud concerning the acquisition of $256 of harmless bacteria. Under the Patriot act they could have faced up to 20 years in prison.

After four harrowing years, on April 21, 2008, a federal judge dismissed the government”s entire indictment against Kurtz as “insufficient on its face” and he has been cleared of all charges.

Steve Kurtz joins me now from Rochester, New York, for his first broadcast interview.

Steve Kurtz, professor of visual studies at SUNY, Buffalo and a founding member of the award-winning art and theater group, Critical Art Ensemble. In May 2004, he was accused of bioterrorism and later charged with mail and wire fraud. He was cleared of all charges in April of this year.

Related Links

• Strange Culture
• Critical Art Ensemble

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