Hi, I noticed a draft version of a letter announcing the benefit we are co-
organising for Steve Kurtz snuck out onto this list. I'm not sure how that
happened, but this is the final letter - please note that the date is
Friday 9 July, NOT 5 July.  Hope to see you there.

Many thanks

Nicola
Arts Catalyst

ART IS NOT TERRORISM
Come and give your support, Friday July 9.

Urgent benefit to raise funds for the LEGAL DEFENCE of artist and academic
Steve Kurtz  and members of the CRITICAL ART ENSEMBLE, currently appearing
before a grand jury and likely to be indicted on June 29 2004 on trumped-up
charges of bioterrorism.

Barry Schwabsky (art critic, co-editor international reviews, Artforum),
Warren Neidich (NY artist, visiting artist Goldsmiths College) and Anjalika
Sagar (UK artist), with the Arts Catalyst and ArtsAdmin invite you to join
us in an unmissable gathering of artists, academics and concerned
individuals to help raise the legal costs of Steve Kurtz of Critical Art
Ensemble.

When:  Friday July 9th,  2004, from 19.00 onwards

Where:  The Courtroom, Toynbee Studios, 28 Commercial Street, London E1 6LS
Near Brick Lane and the Whitechapel Art Gallery (Aldgate East tube)

How much? Free, but bring your chequebook. We are suggesting a  donation of
at least 24 pounds sterling.

What's happening?: Drinks, food donated by *Story organic deli, celebrity
speakers to be announced, music, performance, exclusive footage of Steve
Kurtz speaking at London's Natural History Museum and many other
entertainments. If you are interested in art and the freedom of knowledge
this is the time to lend your support.

For numbers, please let us know if you are planning to come:
020 7375 3690 or [log in to unmask]

We can accept cash or cheques only, no cards (payable to The Arts
Catalyst),
either on the door or to The Arts Catalyst at the above address. If you are
unable to attend but would like to make a donation, please do so either
direct to the defence fund - www.caedefensefund.org - or by sending a
cheque
to Arts Catalyst. The Arts Catalyst is a charitable arts organisation
(charity number: 1042433). Money donated will be transferred directly to
the
CAE Defense fund.

Why is money urgently needed?

Everyone deserves a fair trial and proper legal counsel. American legal
fees
are exorbitant and are already mounting up during the grand jury. Being
indicted on or by June 29 could financially ruin Steve Kurtz for life. This
is part of an international campaign to raise funds for his defence costs.

What happened to Steve Kurtz?

Article by Gary Younge of the Guardian

Art becomes the next suspect in America's 9/11 paranoia

On May 10 Steven Kurtz went to bed a married art professor. On May 11 he
woke up a widower. By the afternoon he was under federal investigation for
bioterrorism.

What began as a personal tragedy for Mr Kurtz has turned into what many
believe is, at best, an overreaction prompted by 9/11 paranoia and, at
worst, a politically motivated attempt to silence a radical artist.

Several of Mr Kurtz's colleagues and artistic collaborators have been
subpoenaed and a date for a federal grand jury hearing set for Tuesday.
Both
artist and his art are set to go on trial for their alleged links with
terrorism.

The ordeal started when Mr Kurtz, who teaches at the University at Buffalo,
New York state, called the emergency services when he woke up to find Hope,
his wife of 25 years, had stopped breathing.

A paramedic who came to his house saw laboratory equipment used in Mr
Kurtz's art work. Within hours agents from the Joint Terrorism Task Force
were combing his house and had seized his books, personal papers, computer
as well as his work which have still not been returned.

Hope, it transpired, had died of a heart failure which no one suggests had
anything to do with Mr Kurtz or his work. But as her body lay in the house
Mr Kurtz, 46, was whisked off to be questioned for two days while his home
was cordoned off and searched. "It's a complete fishing expedition," says
Mr
Kurtz's lawyer, Paul Cambria. "There's no question that it's a paranoid
overreaction that would never have happened before 9/11. I only hope that
it
is not simply aimed at trying to silence his message or the methods he's
using to convey his message." The FBI refuses to comment.

Mr Kurtz, who is not speaking to the press, is part of the Critical Art
Ensemble, "dedicated to exploring the intersections between art,
technology,
radical politics and critical theory".

His art often involves blending biology with agricultural issues. In 2002
his exhibit Molecular Invasion, a statement against genetically modified
crops, created a display of small soy, corn and canola plants growing under
large incubating lamps. Other exhibits allowed visitors to watch bacteria
grow in petri dishes. "He's trying to change the world through his work and
his discourse," says Adele Henderson, the head of the art department at the
University at Buffalo.

The New York-based writer and artist Greg Sholette says: "His art itself is
going to be on trial. The Critical Art Ensemble has a strong tradition of
critiquing capitalism and pushing the edges through its art but always
within constitutional boundaries."

When the police came to Mr Kurtz's house they found equipment used for
extracting and amplifying DNA, as well as three types of bacteria -
prompting bioterrorism fears.

"He is obviously not someone who is attempting to make a weapon," says Mr
Cambria. "He explained that he uses the equipment for his art."

The subpoenas say the FBI is seeking charges under section 175 of the US
Biological Weapons Anti-Terrorism Act of 1989, which has been expanded by
the Patriot Act.

It prohibits the possession of "any biological agent, toxin, or delivery
system" without the justification of "prophylactic, protective, bona fide
research, or other peaceful purpose".

Mr Cambria argues that Mr Kurtz's work "obviously" comes under the last two
categories.

"I know everything we did was legal," said Beatriz da Costa, a member of
the
CAE who says FBI agents followed her to an art show in Massachusetts to
serve her a subpoena. "I can only think they are trying to intimidate us
and
maybe make us an example."

Ms da Costa, a professor at the University of California, says everything
found in the house has been exhibited in public before.

Those close to Mr Kurtz or the case believe the case has spun out of
control
and has potentially huge ramifications. "I feel harassed and hassled," Ms
Da
Costa says. "But mostly I feel sorry for Steve Kurtz because he lost his
wife, and his life has been a nightmare ever since. And he didn't even have
time to grieve."

For further background read Clare Pentecost's excellent essay on
www.caedefensefund.org/background.html

See you at the Benefit
Benefit Committee: Kathy Battista, Julien Dobbs-Higginson,  Kodwo Eshun,
Charlie Gere, Jan Hietala, Janis Jefferies, Susan and Ben Keisler, Karen
Knoor, Kathy Kubicki, Sandra Percival, Marq Smith, John Slyce, Mark Tribe,
Paul Wombell, Karen Wright, and Robert Zimmer.

* Light fare donated by Story deli, purveyors of simple, honest, quality
organically grown food, made in their own kitchen with heart and soul. 3
Dray Walk Old Truman Brewery 91 Brick Lane London. [log in to unmask]
+447949827966.

Organisational help from:
www.artscatalyst.org
www.artsadmin.co.uk