Long-lost Maud Lewis prints on display in Stewiacke

An artist-run gallery in Stewiacke, N.S., is getting in on Maud Lewis's renewed celebrity.

TheWinding River Art Galleryhas about 20 hand-cut, silk-screened prints on display. They're not original paintings, but rather versionsof the famous folk artist'swork createdby art promoterWillard Ferguson when Lewis wasalive.

Ferguson owned the copyright to Lewis's work and eventually gave the prints to a friend, who stored them in his attic. Last fall,the man, who wishes to remain anonymous,dusted them off and brought them into the space.

The gallery doesn't typically buy art, but "in this case, it piqued our interest," saidColetteSamson, an artist and member of the gallery.

"Of course, it was very excitingto find out they were MaudLewis prints."

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They sell for $1,200 to $1,300, nowhere near the $45,000the painting found in an Ontariothrift storesold for earlier this year. Still, Samson said it's driving more people to the gallery.

"Oh my gracious, this is so exciting," she said. "We've had so many visitors to our gallery since the movie came out especially."

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There are still prints for saleat the gallery, and Samson said they'llalso keep some for a permanent display.