Fw:_CAE_-_carta_aberta_de_protesto_(Portugues,_Esp anhol_)_/__CAE_-_opened_letter_to_protest_(_English)

June 7, 2004

Type: discussion

Dears Amanda and Eric and all:

Here is the collaboration of the Museum of Essential and Beyond That to
Steve Kurtz and Critical Art Ensemble cause.

Good luck,

Regina

—– Original Message —–
From: "arteonline" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, June 05, 2004 1:17 PM
Subject: CAE - carta aberta de protesto (Portugues, Espanhol ) / CAE -
opened letter to protest ( English)

> <Portugues:>
>
> Colabore com a defesa do artista Steve Kurtz e do Critical Art Ensemble
>
> Mais pessoas foram intimadas pelo FBI!
>
> Adele Henderson, Chair of the Art Department at UB; Andrew Johnson,
> Professor of Art at UB; Paul Vanouse, Professor of Art at UB; Beatriz da
> Costa, Professor of Art at UCI; Steven Barnes, FSU; and Dorian Burr.
>
> Mais informacoes em:
>
> http://www.caedefensefund.org/
>
> e em:
>
> Critical Art Ensemble:
>
> http://www.critical-art.net/
>
> xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> <English:>
>
> Collaborate with the defense of the artist Steve Kurtz and the Critical
Art
> Ensemble.
>
> SIX SUBPOENAS ISSUED IN FBI CASE AGAINST ARTIST
> More individuals were subpoenaed to appear before a Federal Grand Jury on
> June 15th. Thus far subpoenas have been issued to: Adele Henderson, Chair
of
> the Art Department at UB; Andrew Johnson, Professor of Art at UB; Paul
> Vanouse, Professor of Art at UB; Beatriz da Costa, Professor of Art at
UCI;
> Steven Barnes, FSU; and Dorian Burr.
>
> More information at:
>
> http://www.caedefensefund.org/
>
> and at:
>
> Critical Arte Ensemble:
>
> http://www.critical-art.net/
>
> xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > >
> > > To whom it may concern,
> > >
> > > We, the undersigned artists, curators, critics, cultural producers,
> > > theorists and writers who have worked with or followed the work of the
> > > collective known as Critical Art Ensemble, are writing to express our
> > > serious concern over legal proceedings brought against members of this
> > > highly respected artists group.
> > >
> > > Critical Art Ensemble (CAE) is a collective of internationally
> recognised
> > > artists who work within pedagogic frameworks and art contexts to raise
> > > awareness of a range of social issues. Most recently their work has
> been
> > > directed towards providing the general public with awareness and
> > > understanding of issues to do with biological research. Their work is
> not
> > > alarmist but rather provides knowledge.
> > >
> > > CAE's work is always undertaken in a safe and considered way, using
> > > materials which are commonly available in scientific education
> > > and research
> > > practices. Their main motivation is to provide the public with the
tools
> > > needed to make informed choices.
> > >
> > > It has come to our attention that there was a recent seizure of a
> > > substantial amount of the artists' work and research material. The
> > > international art scene was shocked and surprised to learn that the US
> > > Federal Bureau of Investigation, following an analysis of the
materials
> by
> > > the Commissioner of Public Health for New York State which returned
the
> > > result that the material seized posed no public safety risk, have
> > > continued
> > > with their investigation and are now seeking to charge members of the
> > > collective under the US Biological Weapons Anti-Terrorism Act as
> > > expanded by
> > > the USA Patriot Act.
> > >
> > > Whilst it is perhaps understandable in the current international
> political
> > > climate that such research might raise alarm bells with American
> > > authorities, it would have also been clear, upon investigation, that
the
> > > aims of CAE are not a terrorist act, but an awareness raising action
> > > undertaken with cultural, artistic and educational agendas. Indeed
> CAE's
> > > work is quite in keeping with mainstream art practices, which have,
> > > throughout history, had pedagogical aims.
> > >
> > > Having worked with CAE in various settings throughout the world we
have
> > > found CAE's approach has always been to understand and to know the
topic
> > > that they are presenting. It comes as no surprise, given the
> > > current focus
> > > of their work, that the research tools included biological material.
> > > However, those of us in the art world who have worked with this
artists'
> > > group also know that their work is undertaken with thorough research,
in
> > > continuous consultation with members of the scientific community, in
> order
> > > to ensure that the artworks they produce are safe, but also real, in
> terms
> > > of the investigations they pursue. The work of CAE is internationally
> > > recognised as thorough, investigative, educative and safe.
> > >
> > > This matter is one that raises serious concerns internationally that
the
> > > actions of the American government undermine the freedom of artistic
> > > expression, a fundamental democratic right, which is one of the
> > > cornerstones
> > > of the liberal democracies.
> > >
> > > As the materials have been tested and been shown to pose no public
> health
> > > threat, we demand that the American Government immediately cease legal
> > > action against members of the Critical Art Ensemble collective.
> > >
> > > The good reputation of Critical Art Ensemble must be immediately
> restored.
> > >
> > > Yours faithfully,
> > >
> > >
> > > Amanda McDonald Crowley,
> > > cultural worker/ curator, currently executive producer ISEA2004
> > > (International Symposium of Electronic Art 2004),
> > > Australia/Finland
> > > http://www.isea2004.net
> > >
> > >
> > > Eric Kluitenberg
> > > Head of the Media Program
> > > De Balie - Centre for Culture and Politics
> > > Amsterdam, The Netherlands
> > > http://www.debalie.nl
>
> > >
> > >
> > > Signatories:
> > >
> > > name/profession/position/country/url
> > >
> > >
>
>