Steve Kurtz speaks (Friday 26 August 2005)
compiled by Mary Garboden
You've probably heard about Steve Kurtz, the artist initially detained for possessing biological weapons which were actually art supplies, following the untimely death of his wife at their home. After Kurtz was found innocent of plotting to destroy America with the contents of his petri dishes (some of which he apparently tasted in front of an officer to prove their lack of killer chemicals), the government felt embarrassed and, not liking this lack of justification in humiliating an innocent widower, decided to charge him with mail fraud - an offense which could get Kurtz up to 20 years in a federal prison. As the artist himself said, "My case could be precedent-setting if they can make what is at worst a contract dispute that should be settled in civil court into a crime." Kurtz says that he is at liberty today only "because of the publicity generated before my arraignment. It reflected so badly on the FBI and the Department of Justice that they didn't have the nerve to demand a high bail. It would have just looked vindictive." A little late for that, you might say...
While Kurtz is still awaiting trial, he has recently been given permission by his parole officer to go to California to perform a cameo in Strange culture, a film being made about his case by Lynn Hershman Leeson. The film may raise awareness, but Kurtz does not see it impacting on his case directly: "I doubt very much that it will affect the outcome of a trial because the people who are likely to be on a jury will never see this film."
The full text of the most recent CIRCA Art Magazine article on Kurtz can be read here. Previous CIRCA news items on this topic, with fuller details, can be seen starting here.
Most recent news items:
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For a full list of news items, click here.
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