Shannon Bais accompanied artist Laura Beth Wilson to the Wozzle’s op shop in Wendouree yesterday and helped load the works into the back of her car – a tight fit given the number of paintings, prints and photographs recovered.

Ms Bais worked at the Unicorn and felt a responsibility to track down and restore the paintings and other artworks to the people who created them and loaned them in trust to the former cafe.

While some of the works may not actually have been at the Unicorn – the manager of the op shop wanted to be sure everything was returned, and provided a large variety of pictures – Ms Bais said at least one work of the ones recovered has already been returned to the artist.

She says she’s now hoping to trace the rest of the owners by putting the pictures into a gallery on The Courier’s website.

“I’m just trying to do what I can to help,” Ms Bais says.

“I just want all the artists to get their work back as they’re beautiful pieces.”

She says any works that she discovers are not from the Unicorn will be returned to Wozzle’s for sale.

Artist Laura Beth Wilson discovered at least one of he works had already been sold at Wendouree, but she was sanguine about its loss, saying she was glad someone thought enough of the work to buy it.

In the meantime, the owners of the Unicorn Hotel building say they are taking the opportunity to do some restoration work while seeking a new tenant.

Any information can be sent to cos.thecourier@fairfaxmedia.com.au

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