Rhizome: "you may have a problem with Switch Media but that does not mean Rhizome does or Rhizome members do"...

Francis – I think it would have been more constructive to focus on
*your* problems with Switch Media rather than lambasting Rhizome for
covering Switch's fesitval in a Net Art News. Switch staff are Rhizome
members and are entitled to post to the list as they like, and just as
you do. You might not like that or them but I am afraid I/Rhizome won't
censor or exclude them unless they violate Rhizome's terms of service.
And spending Rhizome's limited resources to research your problems with
Switch Media seems risky and I am not sure what the point would be.
Best of luck to you and your organization and thank you for cautioning
me and other Rhizomers by sharing your concerns about Switch, their
personalities and practices. Best regards, Rachel Greene


On Sunday, January 18, 2004, at 12:14 PM, <[email protected]> wrote:

> Hello Rhizome and other list members,
>
> Recently "Switch Media" has appeared on Rhizome's front page with an
> article published
> by Rachel Greene < [email protected]> Rhizome Editor.
>
> The Article presents an the identity "Switch Media" as an organization
> of artists or at
> least one that support artists. None of that is true - you will soon
> find out.
>
> Rachel Greene Wrote:
> …"you may have a problem with Switch Media but that does not mean
> Rhizome does
> or Rhizome members do"…
>
> and I say: ….. if Rhizome members Know anything at all about "Switch
> Media" its because
> Rhizome.org's homepage featured "Switch Media"… and what do YOU
> know about
> them?…
>
>
> -x-
>
>
> In very short: "Switch Media" is a fake. Looking for recognition in
> the Media Art Scene via
> online presence. All this in order to obtain art and culture related
> funding.Funding will ensure
> a next year position to the one currently in charge at the CMU Art
> Museum and will provide
> a hideout (and visa) for a thief, former Heroine addict inventor of
> "Switch Media" - namely
> Rudolf Stoert, from Berlin Germany.
>
>
> Believe it or try his 'art' activities yourself.
>
>
>
> -x-
>
> Rhizome.org is being abused by "Switch Media"; in turn, Rhizome is
> misleading its audience
> reading Rhizome homepage.
>
> The following email drew my attention to this fact:
>
> > ———————– Original Message ———————–
> > From: Amos Elmaliah < [email protected]>
> > To: [email protected]
> > Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2004 14:56:21 +0100
> > Subject: Re: hi
> > —-
> > after understanding what happened in august… maybe you should
> > write about it to rhizome.org's people, because now they are
> promoting
> > the swich media chang mai festival in their site, wouldn't hurt if
> > they know the real story. specially make the points that 1. culture
> exchange.
> > 2. initiative. 3. courses *for* thai people not *for* money.
> >
> > see:
> > http://www.rhizome.org/
> >
> > amos.
> > ——————— Original Message Ends ——————–
>
> In a response/warning to Rhizome.org I got the following reply:
> Note the last line!
>
>> From: Rachel Greene < [email protected]>
>> To: [email protected]
>> Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2004 11:16:06 -0500
>> Subject: Re: Rhizome is abused by Switch Media Chinagmai
>> —-
>>
>> Hi – As I said before, you may have a problem with Switch
>> Media but that does not mean Rhizome does or Rhizome members
>> do. There are too many people and too many unknowns and too
>> much distance for me to remove content relating to them. I am
>> interested in developing a relationship with you but Rhizome's
>> practices are not to exclude organizations, especially when we
>> are COMPLETELY uninvolved in the situation.
>> Thanks, Rachel
>
> Rachel claims that Rhizome is not involved, yet if Rhizome members
> Know anything
> at all about "Switch Media" its because Rhizome.org homepage (her
> article) featured
> Switch Media. Rachel advertise a group that has the aim to be seen an
> art group
> and as holding a Media Art Festival in Thailand, to gain funding,
> while the authentic
> Media Art Festival is actually happening on another date, location and
> on another
> University ! ( see http://thailand.culturebase.org )
>
> The last line of Rachel's email is a false statement and here is the
> proof:
>
>
> > From: < [email protected]>
> > To: [email protected]
> > Date: Fri, 16 Jan 2004 18:21:28 -0800 (PST)
> > Subject: stuff..
> > —-
> > i got Rhizome's email saying they have a new program
> > in chiang mai. that stoert is a real fuck. well, he's
> > time is numbered. he wouldn't want to get involved in
> > any shady deals, or else they lock him up for life.
>
>
> < [email protected]> is a writer and a journalist. He spent years
> in Chiangmai and
> recently discovered Rudolf's past- a 9 year Heroine addict, and an
> alcoholic.
>
> According to < [email protected]> Rudolf has borrowed him a laptop,
> captured
> his Internet passwords and used them.
>
> Rudolf has also a history of thefts:
>
> In Germany he has confiscated Bank accounts, and his sole income is
> borrowing money.
> He is using other people's cash cards in daily life and used his
> Father's bank account to
> receive money for recent illegal jobs he did in Germany.
>
> During his 2 month free stay at ICECA artist's in residence in
> Chiangmai he entered
> other rooms in the house (without permission) and made international
> phone calls
> which he "forgot" to pay.
>
> When he got access to internal ICECA documents, stole email contacts
> and sent false
> claims to Foundation Langlois's former worker to sabotage ICECA
> funding applications.
> (That woman - A.F. since then never replayed an email from ICECA)
>
> Rudolf was asked to refrain from relating to ICECA. And 8 weeks later,
> when he had
> forced to leave ICECA's artist in residence, he stole bed-sheets and
> bed-covers from
> the room he stayed!
>
> -x-
>
>
> Here is a letter confirming some of the above:
>
>
> > ———————– Original Message ———————–
> > From: "Prof. Michael Bielicky" < [email protected]>
> > Date: Sun, 02 Nov 2003 22:00:22 +0700
> > Subject: Re: Chiangmai
> > —-
> >
> > Ladies and Gentlemen,
> >
> > sorry to bother you with such a letter but I would like to
> correct some
> > impressions of the ugly story which was created by Rudolf Stoert
> (switch media) this
> > year in the Chiangmai University CMU Art Museum.
> >
> > I have been again for almost three weeks in Chiangmai this summer
> and so I
> > have experienced the situation from a close distance. To make it
> short the facts
> > are: Mr. Stoert came to Chiangmai to help Francis Wittenberger to
> organize the
> > "Thailand First New Media Festival". Soon Mr. Stoert started to
> spread bad rumors
> > about Francis Wittenberger but still was playing the nice guy in
> his presence. He lied
> > to me, he also lied to many others about the situation and when he
> saw that Mr.
> > Wittenberger had some difficulties within the Museum he just
> turned against him in a
> > very coward way. He was spreading rumors about Mr. Wittenberger
> that he is not a
> > professional. The truth is that in recent years, during which
> Francis Wittenberger was
> > working for many prominent new media research institutions like
> High Tech Center
> > Babelsberg, ZKM Karlsruhe, Q-bus Berlin; Mr. Stoert was doing
> simply nothing ( to
> > say it in a nice way!!!).
> >
> > Mr. Stoert is spreading the information that western people don't
> understand
> > the Thai culture but he is the only one who knows the situation
> (what an attitude!) ,
> > this man has obviously double personality : he treats people who
> are in his way like a
> > right wing person and on the other side he is playing the holy
> Buddhist role! Many of
> > you know this is not the first time Mr. Stoert behaves like this!
> I would not
> > recommend to get involved with Rudolf Stoert for simple reason:
> one can save lots
> > of trouble. I would like to point out that Francis Wittenberger
> did a successful Media
> > Art Festival in Chiangmai which was appreciated all over the world.
> >
> > best
> > Prof. Michael Bielicky
> > ——————— Original Message Ends ——————–
>
>
> -x-
>
> And what is the part of the the CMU Art Museum in all this you may ask?
> For more information you are invited to examine the following:
>
>>>
>
> The CMU Art Museum having a Blank page on the time period
> 28 March -15th April 2003 - the time when Thailand First New Media
> Art Festival took place.
> see http://www.cmu-museum.org
> select year >>2003
> select >> March.
> note: you will NOT see any mentioning of the Festival; No catalog was
> printed, web presence was removed, newspapers were ordered not
> to cover the event:
>
> Original website:
> http://iceca.chiangmai.ac.th
> Backup website:
> http://thailand.culturebase.org/Festival2003
> http://culturebase.org/home/thailand/activity.html
>
> -x-
>
> The CMU Art Museum withdraws from a commitment to support free of
> charge new media art activities offered by the volunteer activity
> of ICECA Thailand:
>
> 1st letter:
> http://culturebase.org/home/iceca/cmu_letters/29mayletter.html
>
> 2nd Letter:
> After Atimana decides to install pay-courses. His idea is to allow
> Rudolf Stoert take over the ICECA New Media Festival:
> http://culturebase.org/home/iceca/cmu_letters/13august.html
>
> 3rd (Final) letter:
> The Dean of fine arts removes the volunteer project ICECA
> with the argument due to "budget restrictions":
> http://culturebase.org/home/iceca/cmu_letters/reject.html
>
> More here:
> http://culturebase.org/home/iceca/cmu_letters/clarifications.html
>
> -x-
>
> "Switch Media" is the pretending replacement of ICECA in Chiangmai.
> Fake claims for activities justify Rudolf's funding applications.
>
> "Switch Media" home page was deliberately created on the same web
> provider as ICECA's to simulate ICECA's credible and well promoted
> web address: ORIGINAL: http://thailand.culturebase.org
>
> FAKE: http://switchmedia.culturebase.org
>
>
> -x-
>
> So, If Rachel Greene < [email protected]> takes the responsibility
> for all of us to
> feature on Rhizome home page a fake organization, and promote without
> previous
> research outlaws as Rudolf Stoert or "organizations" as Switch Media,
> or events
> such as a fake "Switch Media Art Festival" we shall ask ourselves why
> we should
> continue to trust the Rhizome page she edits.
>
> I expect some answer in public from Rachel Greene and maybe some more
> stories
> without cover from the gang in Chiangmai.
>
> Important note about email to ICECA:
> As part of CMU Art Museum director's attempt to disrupt ICECA
> activities he
> ordered his workers to change the password on ICECA's former email
> address
> DO NOT USE: < [email protected]>
> The account has not been disabled, nor forwarded. Its trapping mails
> sent to
> ICECA, and If anyone at all is reading the email arriving - it's him
> who has
> the password! Over 20 phone calls to various departments at the
> university
> were made to try and close the account but nothing at all happened…
> ICECA home page and its traffic were also put to service of the fine
> arts
> department. http://iceca.chiangmai.ac.th if auto forwarded to a page
> containing
> advertisement to the "media art design" pay courses…
>
> And last and not least, if there is anyone out there who can inform
> the Thai ICT
> Ministry to know what they are supporting, maybe more Thai student
> will be able
> to get free education in the future.
>
>
>
> Comments please send to
> < [email protected]>
>
>
> Francis Wittenberger,
> Founder ICECA Thailand.
>
>
> <4rhizome.html>

Thanks to disseminated media we can now have no opinion or interest in eith=
er side of the story.

-e.



—– Original Message —–
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Sent: Sunday, January 18, 2004 12:14 PM
Subject: RHIZOME_RAW: Rhizome: "you may have a problem with Switch Media =
but that does not mean Rhizome does or Rhizome members do"…


Hello Rhizome and other list members,

Recently "Switch Media" has appeared on Rhizome's front page with an arti=
cle published
by Rachel Greene < [email protected]> Rhizome Editor.

The Article presents an the identity "Switch Media" as an organization of=
artists or at
least one that support artists. None of that is true - you will soon fin=
d out.

Rachel Greene Wrote:
…"you may have a problem with Switch Media but that does not mean Rhizo=
me does
or Rhizome members do"…

and I say: ….. if Rhizome members Know anything at all about "Switch Me=
dia" its because
Rhizome.org's homepage featured "Switch Media"… and what do YOU know =
about
them?…


-x-


In very short: "Switch Media" is a fake. Looking for recognition in the M=
edia Art Scene via
online presence. All this in order to obtain art and culture related fund=
ing.Funding will ensure
a next year position to the one currently in charge at the CMU Art Museum=
and will provide
a hideout (and visa) for a thief, former Heroine addict inventor of "Swit=
ch Media" - namely
Rudolf Stoert, from Berlin Germany.


Believe it or try his 'art' activities yourself.



-x-

Rhizome.org is being abused by "Switch Media"; in turn, Rhizome is mislea=
ding its audience
reading Rhizome homepage.

The following email drew my attention to this fact:

> ———————– Original Message ———————–
> From: Amos Elmaliah < [email protected]>
> To: [email protected]
> Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2004 14:56:21 +0100
> Subject: Re: hi
> —-
> after understanding what happened in august… maybe you should
> write about it to rhizome.org's people, because now they are promoting
> the swich media chang mai festival in their site, wouldn't hurt if
> they know the real story. specially make the points that 1. culture exc=
hange.
> 2. initiative. 3. courses *for* thai people not *for* money.
>
> see:
> http://www.rhizome.org/
>
> amos.
> ——————— Original Message Ends ——————–

In a response/warning to Rhizome.org I got the following reply:
Note the last line!

> From: Rachel Greene < [email protected]>
> To: [email protected]
> Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2004 11:16:06 -0500
> Subject: Re: Rhizome is abused by Switch Media Chinagmai
> —-
>
> Hi – As I said before, you may have a problem with Switch
> Media but that does not mean Rhizome does or Rhizome members
> do. There are too many people and too many unknowns and too
> much distance for me to remove content relating to them. I am
> interested in developing a relationship with you but Rhizome's
> practices are not to exclude organizations, especially when we
> are COMPLETELY uninvolved in the situation.
> Thanks, Rachel

Rachel claims that Rhizome is not involved, yet if Rhizome members Know a=
nything
at all about "Switch Media" its because Rhizome.org homepage (her article=
) featured
Switch Media. Rachel advertise a group that has the aim to be seen an art=
group
and as holding a Media Art Festival in Thailand, to gain funding, while t=
he authentic
Media Art Festival is actually happening on another date, location and on=
another
University ! ( see http://thailand.culturebase.org )

The last line of Rachel's email is a false statement and here is the proo=
f:


> From: < [email protected]>
> To: [email protected]
> Date: Fri, 16 Jan 2004 18:21:28 -0800 (PST)
> Subject: stuff..
> —-
> i got Rhizome's email saying they have a new program
> in chiang mai. that stoert is a real fuck. well, he's
> time is numbered. he wouldn't want to get involved in
> any shady deals, or else they lock him up for life.


< [email protected]> is a writer and a journalist. He spent years in C=
hiangmai and
recently discovered Rudolf's past- a 9 year Heroine addict, and an alcoho=
lic.

According to < [email protected]> Rudolf has borrowed him a laptop, ca=
ptured
his Internet passwords and used them.

Rudolf has also a history of thefts:

In Germany he has confiscated Bank accounts, and his sole income is borro=
wing money.
He is using other people's cash cards in daily life and used his Father's=
bank account to
receive money for recent illegal jobs he did in Germany.

During his 2 month free stay at ICECA artist's in residence in Chiangmai =
he entered
other rooms in the house (without permission) and made international phon=
e calls
which he "forgot" to pay.

When he got access to internal ICECA documents, stole email contacts and =
sent false
claims to Foundation Langlois's former worker to sabotage ICECA funding a=
pplications.
(That woman - A.F. since then never replayed an email from ICECA)

Rudolf was asked to refrain from relating to ICECA. And 8 weeks later, wh=
en he had
forced to leave ICECA's artist in residence, he stole bed-sheets and bed-=
covers from
the room he stayed!

-x-


Here is a letter confirming some of the above:


> ———————– Original Message ———————–
> From: "Prof. Michael Bielicky" < [email protected]>
> Date: Sun, 02 Nov 2003 22:00:22 +0700
> Subject: Re: Chiangmai
> —-
>
> Ladies and Gentlemen,
>
> sorry to bother you with such a letter but I would like to correct so=
me
> impressions of the ugly story which was created by Rudolf Stoert (swit=
ch media) this
> year in the Chiangmai University CMU Art Museum.
>
> I have been again for almost three weeks in Chiangmai this summer and =
so I
> have experienced the situation from a close distance. To make it short=
the facts
> are: Mr. Stoert came to Chiangmai to help Francis Wittenberger to orga=
nize the
> "Thailand First New Media Festival". Soon Mr. Stoert started to spread=
bad rumors
> about Francis Wittenberger but still was playing the nice guy in his p=
resence. He lied
> to me, he also lied to many others about the situation and when he saw=
that Mr.
> Wittenberger had some difficulties within the Museum he just turned ag=
ainst him in a
> very coward way. He was spreading rumors about Mr. Wittenberger that h=
e is not a
> professional. The truth is that in recent years, during which Francis =
Wittenberger was
> working for many prominent new media research institutions like High T=
ech Center
> Babelsberg, ZKM Karlsruhe, Q-bus Berlin; Mr. Stoert was doing simply n=
othing ( to
> say it in a nice way!!!).
>
> Mr. Stoert is spreading the information that western people don't unde=
rstand
> the Thai culture but he is the only one who knows the situation (what =
an attitude!) ,
> this man has obviously double personality : he treats people who are i=
n his way like a
> right wing person and on the other side he is playing the holy Buddhis=
t role! Many of
> you know this is not the first time Mr. Stoert behaves like this! I wo=
uld not
> recommend to get involved with Rudolf Stoert for simple reason: one ca=
n save lots
> of trouble. I would like to point out that Francis Wittenberger did a =
successful Media
> Art Festival in Chiangmai which was appreciated all over the world.
>
> best
> Prof. Michael Bielicky
> ——————— Original Message Ends ——————–


-x-

And what is the part of the the CMU Art Museum in all this you may ask?
For more information you are invited to examine the following:

>>

The CMU Art Museum having a Blank page on the time period
28 March -15th April 2003 - the time when Thailand First New Media
Art Festival took place.
see http://www.cmu-museum.org
select year >>2003
select >> March.
note: you will NOT see any mentioning of the Festival; No catalog was
printed, web presence was removed, newspapers were ordered not
to cover the event:

Original website:
http://iceca.chiangmai.ac.th
Backup website:
http://thailand.culturebase.org/Festival2003
http://culturebase.org/home/thailand/activity.html
=

-x-

The CMU Art Museum withdraws from a commitment to support free of
charge new media art activities offered by the volunteer activity
of ICECA Thailand:

1st letter:
http://culturebase.org/home/iceca/cmu_letters/29mayletter.html

2nd Letter:
After Atimana decides to install pay-courses. His idea is to allow
Rudolf Stoert take over the ICECA New Media Festival:
http://culturebase.org/home/iceca/cmu_letters/13august.html

3rd (Final) letter:
The Dean of fine arts removes the volunteer project ICECA
with the argument due to "budget restrictions":
http://culturebase.org/home/iceca/cmu_letters/reject.html

More here:
http://culturebase.org/home/iceca/cmu_letters/clarifications.html

-x-

"Switch Media" is the pretending replacement of ICECA in Chiangmai.
Fake claims for activities justify Rudolf's funding applications.

"Switch Media" home page was deliberately created on the same web
provider as ICECA's to simulate ICECA's credible and well promoted
web address: ORIGINAL: http://thailand.culturebase.org

FAKE: http://switchmedia.culturebase.org


-x-

So, If Rachel Greene < [email protected]> takes the responsibility for a=
ll of us to
feature on Rhizome home page a fake organization, and promote without pre=
vious
research outlaws as Rudolf Stoert or "organizations" as Switch Media, or =
events
such as a fake "Switch Media Art Festival" we shall ask ourselves why we =
should
continue to trust the Rhizome page she edits.

I expect some answer in public from Rachel Greene and maybe some more sto=
ries
without cover from the gang in Chiangmai.

Important note about email to ICECA:
As part of CMU Art Museum director's attempt to disrupt ICECA activities =
he
ordered his workers to change the password on ICECA's former email addres=
s
DO NOT USE: < [email protected]>
The account has not been disabled, nor forwarded. Its trapping mails sent=
to
ICECA, and If anyone at all is reading the email arriving - it's him who =
has
the password! Over 20 phone calls to various departments at the university
were made to try and close the account but nothing at all happened…
ICECA home page and its traffic were also put to service of the fine arts
department. http://iceca.chiangmai.ac.th if auto forwarded to a page cont=
aining
advertisement to the "media art design" pay courses…

And last and not least, if there is anyone out there who can inform the T=
hai ICT
Ministry to know what they are supporting, maybe more Thai student will b=
e able
to get free education in the future.



Comments please send to
< [email protected]>


Francis Wittenberger,
Founder ICECA Thailand.

Or we can save our firepower for those we really believe deserve it by
not shooting the messenger. Lack of censorship can cut both ways…

- Rob.

On 19 Jan 2004, at 20:05, Eryk Salvaggio wrote:

>

Hello -
I had no intention to put Rhizome under critique from the very beginning until I
found it inevitable. Now as the major parts of truth are out I have no further intention
to spend time on Switch Media and the greedy people making it be what it is.

I feel pity for some others being caught in this fire 'just' because they chose
to operate under the umbrella of Rudolf's friends and partners: Uthit Atimana and
Gridthiya Gaweewong (Jiab) the famous Thai curator that fights her way by talking
bad about others.

If the message I posted (attached inline below again) got so far that you know
about Switch Media more then what was on Rhizome homepage the past weeks - its
good enough to protect you.

Beyond that you can find all you need to know about this "non profit
organization" Switch Media - reading between the lines of this double faced
"IT-project manager" Rudolf Stoert in his "artistic" article:

http://rhizome.org/thread.rhiz?thread626&text"329#22329

Note that switch media claims to be a non profit organization while it is not.

comments welcome <[email protected]>

–
Francis Wittenberger,

Founder | ICECA Thailand
Thailand New Media Art Festival 2003 - 2004
http://thailand.culturebase.org


> *your* problems with Switch Media rather than lambasting Rhizome for
> covering Switch's fesitval in a Net Art News. Switch staff are Rhizome
> members and are entitled to post to the list as they like, and just as
> you do. You might not like that or them but I am afraid I/Rhizome won't
> censor or exclude them unless they violate Rhizome's terms of service.
> And spending Rhizome's limited resources to research your problems with
> Switch Media seems risky and I am not sure what the point would be.
> Best of luck to you and your organization and thank you for cautioning
> me and other Rhizomers by sharing your concerns about Switch, their
> personalities and practices. Best regards, Rachel Greene
>
>
> On Sunday, January 18, 2004, at 12:14 PM, <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > Hello Rhizome and other list members,
> >
> > Recently "Switch Media" has appeared on Rhizome's front page with an
> > article published
> > by Rachel Greene < [email protected]> Rhizome Editor.
> >
> > The Article presents an the identity "Switch Media" as an organization
> > of artists or at
> > least one that support artists. None of that is true - you will soon
> > find out.
> >
> > Rachel Greene Wrote:
> > …"you may have a problem with Switch Media but that does not mean
> > Rhizome does
> > or Rhizome members do"…
> >
> > and I say: ….. if Rhizome members Know anything at all about "Switch
> > Media" its because
> > Rhizome.org's homepage featured "Switch Media"… and what do YOU
> > know about
> > them?…
> >
> >
> > -x-
> >
> >
> > In very short: "Switch Media" is a fake. Looking for recognition in
> > the Media Art Scene via
> > online presence. All this in order to obtain art and culture related
> > funding.Funding will ensure
> > a next year position to the one currently in charge at the CMU Art
> > Museum and will provide
> > a hideout (and visa) for a thief, former Heroine addict inventor of
> > "Switch Media" - namely
> > Rudolf Stoert, from Berlin Germany.
> >
> >
> > Believe it or try his 'art' activities yourself.
> >
> >
> >
> > -x-
> >
> > Rhizome.org is being abused by "Switch Media"; in turn, Rhizome is
> > misleading its audience
> > reading Rhizome homepage.
> >
> > The following email drew my attention to this fact:
> >
> > > ———————– Original Message ———————–
> > > From: Amos Elmaliah < [email protected]>
> > > To: [email protected]
> > > Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2004 14:56:21 +0100
> > > Subject: Re: hi
> > > —-
> > > after understanding what happened in august… maybe you should
> > > write about it to rhizome.org's people, because now they are
> > promoting
> > > the swich media chang mai festival in their site, wouldn't hurt if
> > > they know the real story. specially make the points that 1. culture
> > exchange.
> > > 2. initiative. 3. courses *for* thai people not *for* money.
> > >
> > > see:
> > > http://www.rhizome.org/
> > >
> > > amos.
> > > ——————— Original Message Ends ——————–
> >
> > In a response/warning to Rhizome.org I got the following reply:
> > Note the last line!
> >
> >> From: Rachel Greene < [email protected]>
> >> To: [email protected]
> >> Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2004 11:16:06 -0500
> >> Subject: Re: Rhizome is abused by Switch Media Chinagmai
> >> —-
> >>
> >> Hi – As I said before, you may have a problem with Switch
> >> Media but that does not mean Rhizome does or Rhizome members
> >> do. There are too many people and too many unknowns and too
> >> much distance for me to remove content relating to them. I am
> >> interested in developing a relationship with you but Rhizome's
> >> practices are not to exclude organizations, especially when we
> >> are COMPLETELY uninvolved in the situation.
> >> Thanks, Rachel
> >
> > Rachel claims that Rhizome is not involved, yet if Rhizome members
> > Know anything
> > at all about "Switch Media" its because Rhizome.org homepage (her
> > article) featured
> > Switch Media. Rachel advertise a group that has the aim to be seen an
> > art group
> > and as holding a Media Art Festival in Thailand, to gain funding,
> > while the authentic
> > Media Art Festival is actually happening on another date, location and
> > on another
> > University ! ( see http://thailand.culturebase.org )
> >
> > The last line of Rachel's email is a false statement and here is the
> > proof:
> >
> >
> > > From: < [email protected]>
> > > To: [email protected]
> > > Date: Fri, 16 Jan 2004 18:21:28 -0800 (PST)
> > > Subject: stuff..
> > > —-
> > > i got Rhizome's email saying they have a new program
> > > in chiang mai. that stoert is a real fuck. well, he's
> > > time is numbered. he wouldn't want to get involved in
> > > any shady deals, or else they lock him up for life.
> >
> >
> > < [email protected]> is a writer and a journalist. He spent years
> > in Chiangmai and
> > recently discovered Rudolf's past- a 9 year Heroine addict, and an
> > alcoholic.
> >
> > According to < [email protected]> Rudolf has borrowed him a laptop,
> > captured
> > his Internet passwords and used them.
> >
> > Rudolf has also a history of thefts:
> >
> > In Germany he has confiscated Bank accounts, and his sole income is
> > borrowing money.
> > He is using other people's cash cards in daily life and used his
> > Father's bank account to
> > receive money for recent illegal jobs he did in Germany.
> >
> > During his 2 month free stay at ICECA artist's in residence in
> > Chiangmai he entered
> > other rooms in the house (without permission) and made international
> > phone calls
> > which he "forgot" to pay.
> >
> > When he got access to internal ICECA documents, stole email contacts
> > and sent false
> > claims to Foundation Langlois's former worker to sabotage ICECA
> > funding applications.
> > (That woman - A.F. since then never replayed an email from ICECA)
> >
> > Rudolf was asked to refrain from relating to ICECA. And 8 weeks later,
> > when he had
> > forced to leave ICECA's artist in residence, he stole bed-sheets and
> > bed-covers from
> > the room he stayed!
> >
> > -x-
> >
> >
> > Here is a letter confirming some of the above:
> >
> >
> > > ———————– Original Message ———————–
> > > From: "Prof. Michael Bielicky" < [email protected]>
> > > Date: Sun, 02 Nov 2003 22:00:22 +0700
> > > Subject: Re: Chiangmai
> > > —-
> > >
> > > Ladies and Gentlemen,
> > >
> > > sorry to bother you with such a letter but I would like to
> > correct some
> > > impressions of the ugly story which was created by Rudolf Stoert
> > (switch media) this
> > > year in the Chiangmai University CMU Art Museum.
> > >
> > > I have been again for almost three weeks in Chiangmai this summer
> > and so I
> > > have experienced the situation from a close distance. To make it
> > short the facts
> > > are: Mr. Stoert came to Chiangmai to help Francis Wittenberger to
> > organize the
> > > "Thailand First New Media Festival". Soon Mr. Stoert started to
> > spread bad rumors
> > > about Francis Wittenberger but still was playing the nice guy in
> > his presence. He lied
> > > to me, he also lied to many others about the situation and when he
> > saw that Mr.
> > > Wittenberger had some difficulties within the Museum he just
> > turned against him in a
> > > very coward way. He was spreading rumors about Mr. Wittenberger
> > that he is not a
> > > professional. The truth is that in recent years, during which
> > Francis Wittenberger was
> > > working for many prominent new media research institutions like
> > High Tech Center
> > > Babelsberg, ZKM Karlsruhe, Q-bus Berlin; Mr. Stoert was doing
> > simply nothing ( to
> > > say it in a nice way!!!).
> > >
> > > Mr. Stoert is spreading the information that western people don't
> > understand
> > > the Thai culture but he is the only one who knows the situation
> > (what an attitude!) ,
> > > this man has obviously double personality : he treats people who
> > are in his way like a
> > > right wing person and on the other side he is playing the holy
> > Buddhist role! Many of
> > > you know this is not the first time Mr. Stoert behaves like this!
> > I would not
> > > recommend to get involved with Rudolf Stoert for simple reason:
> > one can save lots
> > > of trouble. I would like to point out that Francis Wittenberger
> > did a successful Media
> > > Art Festival in Chiangmai which was appreciated all over the world.
> > >
> > > best
> > > Prof. Michael Bielicky
> > > ——————— Original Message Ends ——————–
> >
> >
> > -x-
> >
> > And what is the part of the the CMU Art Museum in all this you may ask?
> > For more information you are invited to examine the following:
> >
> >>>
> >
> > The CMU Art Museum having a Blank page on the time period
> > 28 March -15th April 2003 - the time when Thailand First New Media
> > Art Festival took place.
> > see http://www.cmu-museum.org
> > select year >>2003
> > select >> March.
> > note: you will NOT see any mentioning of the Festival; No catalog was
> > printed, web presence was removed, newspapers were ordered not
> > to cover the event:
> >
> > Original website:
> > http://iceca.chiangmai.ac.th
> > Backup website:
> > http://thailand.culturebase.org/Festival2003
> > http://culturebase.org/home/thailand/activity.html
> >
> > -x-
> >
> > The CMU Art Museum withdraws from a commitment to support free of
> > charge new media art activities offered by the volunteer activity
> > of ICECA Thailand:
> >
> > 1st letter:
> > http://culturebase.org/home/iceca/cmu_letters/29mayletter.html
> >
> > 2nd Letter:
> > After Atimana decides to install pay-courses. His idea is to allow
> > Rudolf Stoert take over the ICECA New Media Festival:
> > http://culturebase.org/home/iceca/cmu_letters/13august.html
> >
> > 3rd (Final) letter:
> > The Dean of fine arts removes the volunteer project ICECA
> > with the argument due to "budget restrictions":
> > http://culturebase.org/home/iceca/cmu_letters/reject.html
> >
> > More here:
> > http://culturebase.org/home/iceca/cmu_letters/clarifications.html
> >
> > -x-
> >
> > "Switch Media" is the pretending replacement of ICECA in Chiangmai.
> > Fake claims for activities justify Rudolf's funding applications.
> >
> > "Switch Media" home page was deliberately created on the same web
> > provider as ICECA's to simulate ICECA's credible and well promoted
> > web address: ORIGINAL: http://thailand.culturebase.org
> >
> > FAKE: http://switchmedia.culturebase.org
> >
> >
> > -x-
> >
> > So, If Rachel Greene < [email protected]> takes the responsibility
> > for all of us to
> > feature on Rhizome home page a fake organization, and promote without
> > previous
> > research outlaws as Rudolf Stoert or "organizations" as Switch Media,
> > or events
> > such as a fake "Switch Media Art Festival" we shall ask ourselves why
> > we should
> > continue to trust the Rhizome page she edits.
> >
> > I expect some answer in public from Rachel Greene and maybe some more
> > stories
> > without cover from the gang in Chiangmai.
> >
> > Important note about email to ICECA:
> > As part of CMU Art Museum director's attempt to disrupt ICECA
> > activities he
> > ordered his workers to change the password on ICECA's former email
> > address
> > DO NOT USE: < [email protected]>
> > The account has not been disabled, nor forwarded. Its trapping mails
> > sent to
> > ICECA, and If anyone at all is reading the email arriving - it's him
> > who has
> > the password! Over 20 phone calls to various departments at the
> > university
> > were made to try and close the account but nothing at all happened…
> > ICECA home page and its traffic were also put to service of the fine
> > arts
> > department. http://iceca.chiangmai.ac.th if auto forwarded to a page
> > containing
> > advertisement to the "media art design" pay courses…
> >
> > And last and not least, if there is anyone out there who can inform
> > the Thai ICT
> > Ministry to know what they are supporting, maybe more Thai student
> > will be able
> > to get free education in the future.
> >
> >
> >
> > Comments please send to
> > < [email protected]>
> >
> >
> > Francis Wittenberger,
> > Founder ICECA Thailand.
> >
> >
> > <4rhizome.html>