The Spirit of Michoacan photographic exhibit put on last month in the Ajijic plaza was aborted almost a week ahead of schedule after four of the handsome large-format images by Jesus Alexandre vanished mysteriously sometime between 2 and 5 a.m. on Sunday, December 22.
Xill Fessenden, coordinator of the Purepecha arts and culture festival, tells the Reporter she had made arrangements for police and a hotel night watchman to keep an eye on the exhibit, but thieves apparently took advantage of a security glitch in the middle of the night to make off with four of the works – surely no easy task considering their large dimensions. Fessenden duly reported the theft to local police and the Ministerio Publico (district attorney’s office). Investigators are now following up on sketchy leads to identify the culprits and recuperate the missing pieces.
Once word of the unfortunate crime got out, a local movement began to support the effort to replace the pilfered pictures. Donations may be deposited in Santander Bank account 60-5551 2952-3, Clabe 01447 06055 51295 233, held in Morelia, Michoacan, under the name of Rosemary Antoinette Calderone, a founding member of the Espiritu of Michoacan Foundation Board of Directors.
The names of all contributors will go into the hat for a drawing of a boxed set that will include the choice of one 17.6”x32” or 16”x24” reproduction plus 15 unpublished images from the collection. For further information, direct email inquiries to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Alexandre put the traveling photography show together in 2009 to promote Michoacan culture, tourism and commerce. Since then, the collection has been displayed in numerous other public venues without incident. Ironically, a promotional video about the exhibit posted at http://espiritudemichoacan.com boasts, “Easy to transport. Easy to assemble. Hard to ignore.”
The talented young photographer is currently setting dates to take the exhibit to Guadalajara prior to prolonged a spring and summer tour to San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York and Toronto.