Mexihcahs: Keepers of the Fire and The Indigenous Council of Oaxaca opened to rave reviews from hundreds of invited guests at the world-renowned Self-Help Graphics and Art's Galeria Otra Vez on February 7. The prestigious visual arts center, which is located in the heart of East Los Angeles, has helped foster the careers of Chicano artists and is acclaimed for furthering Latino art and culture.

Wesley spent much of the last three years immersed in the rich culture and daily lives of Mexico's indigenous population. Most of that time was spent cultivating relationships with the Mexihcahs and learning the truth about an impoverished but proud people, who lack even the most basic human rights.

"I'm still a bit overwhelmed by the tremendous reception these exhibits have received," said Wesley. "But it's not so much the initial reaction to the work itself that gratifies me. This smile on my face comes from the realization that the true and often untold stories behind these photographs are finally being heard by people in our own country."

These powerful accounts are reaching an even larger audience today thanks to the remarkable media coverage the exhibits have garnered since early February. Stories have already aired or been published by KNBC-4 Television, KNX Radio, The LA Times, La Opinion, Open Your Eyes magazine and LatinoLA.com. KABC's Vista L.A., a television news magazine, is also scheduled to air a lengthy feature story as part of its May 23 broadcast.

Mexihcahs: Keepers of the Fire is a collaborative effort between Wesley and the descendants of a people better known to most of the world as the Aztecs. The exhibit features his inspirational black and white portraits and documentary-style photographs, many of which vividly depict how tradition plays a significant role in the lives of today's Mexihcah. Combined with the art work and revealing text of Maestro Sergio Ocelocoatl Ramirez -- a trusted teacher and descendant of Mexico's earliest inhabitants -- the exhibit helps reveal the uncensored history of the Mexihcah and the truth about their modern-day fight for freedom.

The Indigenous Council of Oaxaca exhibit documents one of the first rallies ever held by the people of Oaxaca to protest the Mexican government's refusal to recognize them or their rights. Wesley was in Oaxaca last summer and captured some of the emotional upheaval in the region.