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In Conversation with Steve Kurtz - January 15, 7:30pm

From: mike2004   mike2004acc.ocad.on.ca
Date: Fri, 7 Jan 2005 07:50:55 -0800

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    *In Conversation with Steve Kurtz:
    *American artist investigated for bioterrorism makes appearance in
    Toronto

    InterAccess Electronic Media Arts Centre presents artist and
    professor *Dr. Steven Kurtz* in his first public appearance after a
    scheduled court hearing in Buffalo, New York on January 11, 2005.
    This hearing follows eight months of investigation by the FBI and US
    Joint Terrorism Task force for bioterrorism-related offenses. The
    Toronto event will be held at Ryerson Universityâs Centre for
    Computing and Engineering (243 Church Street, Toronto) on January
    15, 2005 at 7:30pm.

    Kurtz is a founding member of *Critical Art Ensemble *(CAE), an art
    collective interested in exploring the intersections of art,
    technology and science. CAEâs artistic projects and writings intend
    to provide the public with information and performances pertaining
    to biotechnology research. CAE's most recent project includes a
    mobile DNA extraction laboratory for testing food products for the
    presence of genetically modified organisms.

    On May 11, 2004, Kurtz called 911 after discovering that his wife
    had suffered a cardiac arrest in her sleep and died. The police
    arrived and, after stumbling across test tubes and petri dishes
    Kurtz was using in a current artwork, called in the Joint Terrorism
    Task Force.

    Soon agents from the Task Force and FBI detained Kurtz, cordoned off
    the entire block around his house and impounded Kurtz's computers,
    manuscripts, books, equipment and even his wife's body for further
    analysis. The Buffalo Health Department condemned the house a health
    risk.

    The Commissioner of Public Health for New York State tested samples
    from the home and announced there was no public safety threat.

    While most observers assumed the Task Force would realize that its
    initial investigation of Kurtz was a terrible mistake, the Task
    Force has continued its investigation and changed the charges from
    bioterrorism to mail and wire fraud. Also indicted in this case is
    Dr. Robert Ferrell, professor of Genetics at the University of
    Pittsburgh, for providing the innocuous organisms to Kurtz. Both men
    face a maximum sentence of twenty years in prison. Artists and
    scientists worldwide have rallied around Kurtz during his
    investigation.

    Kurtzâ appearance in Toronto offers the public the opportunity to
    hear Kurtz and Gregg Bordowitz, spokesperson for the CAE Defense
    Fund. They will speak about the work of CAE and the importance of
    creative freedom and privacy rights to educating the public about
    the effects of âmilitarizedâ biotechnology practices. A moderated
    discussion period will follow Kurtz's talk, led by Sally McKay.

    InterAccess is pleased to present this talk and discussion with
    Kurtz as a fundraiser for the CAE Defense Fund. Admission is pay
    what you can (suggested donation of $5) and ninety percent of all
    proceeds will go to the defense fund. The remaining monies will be
    used to offset costs of the speaking engagement. InterAccess thanks
    the New Media faculty at Ryerson University for their support of
    this event.

    For more information and discussion on this case, visit
    _http://www.caedefensefund.org_.

    *InterAccess Electronic Media Arts Centre* is a not-for-profit
    artist-run production centre and gallery that enables artists and
    the general public to explore the intersections of art and
    technology. Through artist talks, exhibitions, workshops and other
    events, InterAccess aims to expand the cultural space of technology.

    Media inquiries: Heather Corcoran, (416) 599-7206, extension  30 or
    _heather@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
    Event inquiries: Jessica Fung, (416) 599-7206, extension 21 or
    _jessica@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx







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