Weird, uncomfortable-looking shoe is stolen from an Indiana museum. They want it back

Have you seen this shoe? A museum in Indiana wants to know.

Chris Francis’ exhibition “Modern Bespoke: 21st Century Shoe Art” has been on display at the South Bend Museum of Art since January, but over the weekend, a piece went missing, the museum said in a news release.

Officials believe it was stolen.

The shoe — a platform clog-like design titled “Welcome Knives” — vanished between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday, the release said.

Officials are investigating the incident and scouring video surveillance footage to determine what, exactly, happened to the one-of-a-kind shoe.

Francis released a statement pleading for the shoe’s safe return.

“When a piece is stolen from an exhibition it is stolen not just from the artist but from future audiences,” he said in the release. “It’s my hope that the shoe is returned, perhaps someone didn’t think about the seriousness of the crime committed and will find it within them to return the piece.”

Francis lauded the museum for putting together a “beautiful exhibition,” reminding visitors that while one shoe may be gone, the rest of the exhibition remains available for their enjoyment.

The museum is asking anyone with information on the whereabouts of “Welcome Knives” to contact the South Bend Police Department at (574) 235-9201 or the South Bend Museum of Art directly via email at info@southbendart.org, or through SBMA’s social media accounts.

“Chris Francis: Modern Bespoke: 21st Century Shoe Art” will be on display through April 5.

This story was originally published February 17, 2020 at 7:19 AM with the headline "Weird, uncomfortable-looking shoe is stolen from an Indiana museum. They want it back."