Ruscha's drawing entitled This, That (1970) is from a body of work called "gunpowder ribbon drawings, in which the artist experimented with different materials, including gunpowder, to write phrases in ribbonlike forms. Ruscha felt gunpowder's softness made it a better drawing material than graphite or charcoal, and it could also be used as wash. Ruscha is a Los Angeles-based Pop and Conceptual artist who continues to make significant contributions to the art of our time. A sense of humor and language are important components of his work, which often includes quirky phrases pulled from the American vernacular.

Source: News, April May June, 2007.