Are you an artist worried about the public interpreting your pretentious, froufrou pieces?

Well, let the FBI have a crack at it.

(Actually, don’t.)

Back in May 2004, SUNY art history professor Steve Kurtz became involved in just that: a convoluted, complicated and wholly unnecessary FBI bio-terrorism investigation based on Kurtz’s art supplies. In April this year, he was aquitted of all charges.

Today, he gave a fantastic interview with Amy Goodman of Democracy Now! on the ordeal.

“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 four years began to unfold. The police became suspicious of his art supplies and harmless bacteria cultures that he was using for an antiwar project about the public health impact of germ warfare programs. 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.”

Also: Read about the spectacular, equally froufrou film based on the incident here.

Tags: bioterrorism, fbi