FirstPathway Weblog

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2011- Bob Kraft, Chairman and CEO of FirstPathway Partners and Co-chair of the MMAC China Council, attended the exclusive President’s Circle Preview Party- The Emperor’s Private Paradise: Treasures from the Forbidden City. This event was a sneak peak to the exhibition on view Saturday, June 11 through Sunday, September 11, 2011.

The Milwaukee Art Museum is one of only three museums in the world to ever showcase the over ninety objects of ceremony and leisure from the Qianlong Garden and the Forbidden City in Beijing.

“This is an extraordinary, unprecedented opportunity for the public to see masterpieces from the legendary Forbidden City complex before the objects return to Beijing where they will likely never leave the country again,” said Daniel Keegan, director of the Milwaukee Art Museum. “We are honored to be one of only three museums worldwide to present this breathtaking exhibition. It reaffirms our commitment to bringing world-class exhibitions to Milwaukee, and underscores the importance of the Milwaukee Art Museum on the international stage.”

For more information, visit mam.org/china.

Wednesday, May 4 – Bob Kraft, Chairman and CEO of FirstPathway Partners/Co-chair of the MMAC China Council joined Milwaukee Mayor, Tom Barrett in welcoming representatives of the US Olympic Committee and USA Table Tennis Federation during a recent site visit.

Milwaukee is honored to hosts The USA Table Tennis Federation’s US Open tournament featuring 700 elite table tennis athletes from 15 countries. The open takes place at the Frontier Airlines Convention Center, June 30 through July 4 during Milwaukee’s “Summer of China.”

The Open is politically significant in that it marks the 40th anniversary of “ping pong diplomacy,” a 1971 Beijing table tennis exhibition which helped open trade and diplomacy between the US and China. A Chinese delegation which includes several original “ping pong diplomacy” competitors is scheduled to appear.

Milwaukee’s “Summer of China,” also includes The Milwaukee Art Museum’s summer series, The Emperor’s Private Paradise: Treasures from the Forbidden City, contents of the Qianlong Emperor’s private retreat. Milwaukee is honored to be one of few cities selected to host this never before seen exhibition and historic tournament.

Bob Kraft, Chairman/CEO of FirstPathway Partners and Co-Chair of the MMAC China Council, joins advisory committee and Milwaukee Art Museum curators in planning public events to enhance this summer’s unprecedented exhibits. For the first time ever the Milwaukee Art Museum will present four separate exhibitions of Chinese art.

June 11 through September 12, 2011, The Milwaukee Art Museum proudly presents The Emperor’s Private Paradise: Treasures from the Forbidden City, featuring the contents of the Qianlong Emperor’s private retreat. Milwaukee is honored to be one of few cities selected to host this never before seen exhibition.

In addition to The Emperor’s Private Paradise: Treasures from the Forbidden City Milwaukee will also relish Modern Chinese Ink Paintings from the Chu-tsing Li Collection, installations from contemporary Chinese artist Zhan Wang and The Conley Collection of Chinese Art.

To celebrate this unparalleled year of exhibitions, Milwaukee Mayor, Tom Barrett has declared the summer of 2011: The Summer of China.

Learn More About The Milwaukee Art Museum