After working in the health care industry for several years and dabbling in radio hosting in Amsterdam, Bluestein moved to Chicago in 1998 and started becoming involved with the underground film and performance scene.
His Russian parents, Mendel and Esther Bluestein, were active in the anarchist group in the International Ladies Garment Workers Union and were part of the Modern School (which Abe attended) at the Stelton Colony in New Jersey.