Husband, wife team dominate new book

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The works of an Alberta husband-and-wife team dominate a recently published collection of creative writings.

Ruth Mustus, from the Alexis Reserve 89 km northwest of Edmonton, has seven

of her written works in the book while her husband's art graces the cover.

Mustus and Glen Nipshank, a Cree from Slave Lake, are both students at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Sante Fe, New Mexico. Mustus is the only Canadian writer with works in the book, published by the school, and Nipshank is the only Alberta Native artist with work in the book.

Mustus headed south last August after working as a production assistant for a television station in Vancouverr. She got frustrated by the lack of attention being paid to Native issues and by the realization she would have to stay in the industry for 10 to 15 years before she finally got to be a producer.

"I never really thought of myself as a writer but I went down there and somebody said "What's your major?" I thought, well I'm not a painter, I'm not a sculptor, I'm not interested in the museum program, so I guess I'm a writer," Mustus said.

"But it's really comfortable - I think it's what I'm meant to do now."

Eventually, she wants to write and produce historical films of Native peoples.

"If you read the history books, you're almost ashamed to be Indian when you go

to school. I want to give them the real image of what happened - not somebody else's interpretation.

"We're such a video-dominated society now - that's the easiest way to get the message out."

Mustus and Nipshank met four years ago in Edmonton and moved to Vancouver together, where both of them went to school. Nipshank followed Mustus to New Mexico in January. The two now have a daughter, Chloe Bluebird, born in December.

Nipshank has been a working artist for the last 10 years, working in water-color, oil, ink and acrylic. He has had exhibitions in Toronto and Quebec and his work is in the collection of the Ministry of Indian and Northern Affairs and in private collections in Alberta, Ontario, B.C. and California.

He's working right now with textures and a "different way of looking at things." His teachers frown at what they call "coyote art" - a big seller among tourists in Sante Fe. They try to teach their students to reach and work from their natural creativity.

"They want you to play like a baby again - like a child - and then you get creative again."

Nipshank's paintings are in several Sante Fe shops and some of his works will be chosen for a display in New York. He also plans to do a show in Slave Lake at the 1994 Arctic Games.

"I think Native art is coming to a head right now. The pride is being instilled again."