I was driving down the Hwy 1 near Digby when I spotted the sign for the memorial site for Maud Lewis, Nova Scotia’s beloved folk artist.
I tucked the information in the back of my head because I had plans that day. I vowed to visit the site on my next trip in the area. Most likely if you are Canadian, especially if you grew up in western Nova Scotia, you know about Maud Lewis.
My memory was a little sketchy but I remember learning about Maud Lewis at school. She was a painter and artist who was renowned for her colourful and simple depictions of rural life.
Her powerful story is one of creativity, resilience and determination. Maud was born with multiple defects that left her shoulders sloped unnaturally sloped and her chin resting on her chest. She developed juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, a condition that progressively worsened and limited the use of her hands and mobility. There’s so much more to her powerful story. Her fully restored house is on permanent display in Halifax at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia.
Replica house, a personal connection
The story of the replica house that Murray Ross built is a good one. It’s about personal connection that inspired a desire to honour and preserve the memory of the Canadian folk artist. Murray’s family was close with Maud and her husband, Everett. He even met her when he was 10 years old.
Murray greeted me almost immediately after I parked at the replica. After a some initial chit chat, Murray shared his story as a retired fisherman and artist who wanted to preserve her legacy in rural Nova Scotia.
The house and a copy of Everett’s shop is a few hundred metres from his home. The house is open to the public by donation. There’s even a sign on a tree that says “not government funded,” which underscores the personal dedication Murray has put into this project.
I asked Murray if I could take a picture of him. First he has to take four photos of me by the house. He takes the same four photos of all the guests in various positions by the house.
Whether you’re a longtime fan of Maud Lewis or just discovering her story, this little house tucked away in rural Nova Scotia is worth the visit.