Wafaa Bilal, "The Night of Bush Capturing"

"R.P.I. SUSPENDS 'VIRTUAL JIHADI'":

"The move capped a chain of events -- including claims the FBI was eyeing the artist -- that began last month when the College Republicans blasted the arts department as 'a terrorist safe haven.'"

"Bilal said his brother was killed in the conflict. His exhibit's stated intention is to highlight vulnerability to recruitment by groups like al-Qaida 'because of the U.S.'s failed strategy in securing Iraq.' It also criticizes 'racist generalizations and stereotypes as exhibited in games such as 'Quest for Saddam.'"

"Wafaa Bilal was named a 2007 Chicagoan of the Year by the Chicago Tribune, which wrote, 'No artwork created in Chicago in 2007 received as much attention as Wafaa Bilal's "Domestic Tension," an interactive performance piece that subjected the Iraqi-born artist to a month of bombardment by paintballs from Internet viewers.'"

"Virtual Jihadi" reopens at The Sanctuary for Independent Media this Monday.