PETER BUFFETT IN CHINA TO PROMOTE WISCONSIN ARTS TIES

Special to the Readers of Milwaukeeworld.com

By Michael Horne

Former Milwaukeean Peter Buffett is in China this week and next to discuss cultural ties with the giant nation. He and his wife Jennifer Buffett join delegation leader Einar Tangen and others from this state, including Greater Milwaukee Committee President Julia Taylor, GMC China liaison and Executive Assistant to Mayor Barrett, Jodie Lee Tabak, World Trade Center Wisconsin Director Christian Bartley and former Haggerty Museum director Curtis Carter on the trip, which has not yet been publicized in this country, as far as can be determined.

Taylor’s office said there had been no advance publicity for the tour, which began around February 20^th, and should continue until March 7^{th 2008}, according to Taylor’s voicemail indicating she will not be in telephonic communication during that time. Barrett’s office would only say that Tabak was not in. However, when pressed, the office admitted that she was on the China junket. Sure sounds super secret, eh? And they say it's the Chinese who are inscrutable!

Buffett hopes to meet with cultural officials to arrange a Chinese performance of “Spirit: The Seventh Fire,” which premiered in this country in 2005, with performances in Omaha, Milwaukee and Philadelphia. On the other side of the ledger, Tangen hopes to arrange a Milwaukee exhibition of the works of former Chinese culture minister Gao Zhanziang, a commie who is also known as a poet, critic and calligrapher. Apparently the Maoist and the Third Ward businessman are old chums.

The Buffetts’ $200 million (2006 valuation) NoVo Foundation has made significant grants and charitable investments in China, and the group may take the time to check on the progress of those interests.

Peter and Jennifer also were instrumental in the creation of Milwaukee radio station 88NINE, which is celebrating its first anniversary on the air today, Tuesday, February 26^th, 2008. An anniversary party for the station is scheduled at Moct on March 8^th, 2008, just in time for the return of the adventurers.