Artists often find inspiration from their surrounding environment, travels, and happen-chance moments throughout the day. For Bay Area-based artist Elizabeth Ryono, it is no different. Perra Linda, translated from Spanish to English means “beautiful dog,” is the title for her show and fundraiser for the ICA. The title comes from the inspiration for this body of work: a peculiar wood carved dog sculpture from Mexico, found advertisement paper, and a poem by Billy Collins. In a time where Ryono feels like there is too much noise in our social and political environment, Ryono refocuses her energy to create these intimate paintings. Perra Linda is a practice on appreciating the nuances of life: of emotions of grief, frustration, anger, optimism, and hope.

From artist books, contemporary art collections, family photos, a beautiful garden, and little tchotchkes, Ryono, and her husband, artist Byron Ryono have created a home that is full of creativeness. But one particular object amongst many has caught her eye: a curious dog sculpture that she purchased from an import craft seller 15 years ago. Having no artist signature and originally made available for tourist mass consumption, the little wooden dog sculpture appears to be hand crafted, and according to Ryono, she believes that the craftsperson really cared for the delicate object. The object lived in Ryono’s home for several years, but says that like any good art, it is still an intriguing object to this day. Along with this sculpture, Ryono has acquired sheets of advertising billboard paper from the 1970’s. In its previous life, the advertisement once persuaded consumers to purchase a product; now it is ripped, torn, and chopped into little canvas pieces, decontextualized from having any message. Ryono took a strong interest in the texture and quality of these materials as well as the messages and sentiments they once carried.

Tying the materials and inspiration together is a poem by Billy Collins entitled, Another Reason Why I Don’t Keep a Gun In The House. The poem provides much solace for her and is a metaphor for the sentiments she is currently reacting to: the constant noise and frustration in our current times. Ironically, returning to the title of the work, Perra carries several meanings—it has a derogatory connotation of “bitch,” as well as “tantrum” and “obsession,”which Ryono fondly enjoys and complicates the meaning of her practice.

Another Reason Why I Don’t Keep a Gun in the House

by Billy Collins

The neighbors’ dog will not stop barking.
He is barking the same high, rhythmic bark
that he barks every time they leave the house.
They must switch him on on their way out.

The neighbors’ dog will not stop barking.
I close all the windows in the house
and put on a Beethoven symphony full blast
but I can still hear him muffled under the music,
barking, barking, barking,

and now I can see him sitting in the orchestra,
his head raised confidently as if Beethoven
had included a part for barking dog.

When the record finally ends he is still barking,
sitting there in the oboe section barking,
his eyes fixed on the conductor who is
entreating him with his baton

while the other musicians listen in respectful
silence to the famous barking dog solo,
that endless coda that first established
Beethoven as an innovative genius.