Steve Kurtz

Over the break, I had the chance to see this documentary, Strange Culture, about the bioartist Steve Kurtz.  In 2004 Kurtz was arrested on counts of bioterrorism, after police were called to his house (his wife died in her sleep) and they found petri dishes containing biological specimens, used in his work.  His artist collective was known for creating genetically altered foods.  Fortunately, a grand jury turned down the bioterrorism charges, but Kurtz did end up being accused of mail and wire fraud, although the indictment was later dropped.  I thought it was really interesting.  His work really questions the traditional role of art, so it is understandable that the police, and FBI, did not really get this.  It just goes to show how so much contemporary art is really not accessible to the average American.  

so i met this cashier

the first time i went to Ok Natural food store there was this older man at the register. He was extremely friendly and we hit it off talking about California and Mica. He i guess was a photographer a while back, and still does it but now has a main focus. He takes some really interesting shots of Baltimore and its gritty glory through photos of "R.I.P" graffiti . whenever i see some "RIP Biggee" or "Get it or Die trying, Big Money" written on some building's bricks, i now think of Peter Barry, the Ok Natural hippie clerk.
Check his stuff out, some of them are pretty moving :

http://www.socialdocumentary.net/exhibit/Peter_Barry/301