Date: Tue, 8 Jun 2004 10:04:27 -0400 From: Randall Packer <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: In Defense of Steve Kurtz and the Role of the Artist
A Letter in Defense of Steve Kurtz and the Role of the Artist in Society:
As with many in the arts community, particularly those engaged in acts of artistic mediation, I am shocked and outraged that one of our own has become a recent victim of oppressive policies coming down from the Bush administration. I met Steve and Critical Art Ensemble partner Claire Pentecost a few years ago here in Washington, DC, during their residency at the Corcoran College of Art.
Steve's commitment to social inquiry, particularly in the area of bio-technologies, is internationally renowned. Steve is an artist and scholar of extraordinary depth of knowledge and perspective. Behind the actions and projects of CAE is a profound understanding of 20th century avant-garde practice and its impact on contemporary thought. If in fact it is the role of the artist to shed new light and vision on the issues that confront us today, Steve is the classic model, the real deal.
For Steve Kurtz to now be facing criminal charges, shows the deep chasm that exists in our society between the artist's role as a social and political critic, and the society at large. Steve has shown how the artist-as-citizen might stand up for justice in the most thoughtful and imaginative way possible.
It is my hope that the case of Steve Kurtz and other CAE collaborators now under investigation can inspire other artists to better articulate their vital role in society. Without artistic freedom, there is no freedom in the world. The artist is constantly examining, redefining and expanding our notions of freedom. How hypocritical for the US Government to claim it is bringing freedom and democracy to oppressive regions of the world, when here at home, it is condemning one of the great artists of our generation who speaks out for truth and justice.
In George Orwell's 1984, the motto of Big Brother is:
WAR IS PEACE FREEDOM IS SLAVERY IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH
The words resonate all too well in the current social and political climate. The crisis facing us is much larger than the charges that may face Steve Kurtz and Critical Art Ensemble. The crisis is that this madness may soon be staring us all in the face, particularly those of us fighting for the ideals we thought our nation was all about. Steve is being victimized by the Patriot Act and the extremist ideologies behind it. We must not allow this to occur. We must defend the principles we believe in, and we must defend the role of the artist as a critical voice to help counter the rising tide of injustice that has spread since 9-11.
The defense of Steve Kurtz is vital to the defense of the artist, whose role is to function as a mediator between our strange hostile world and the human spirit.
Randall Packer June 8, 2004 Washington, DC
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