The Leroy Roper Gallery at eXcuses Celebrating our first year anniversary!!!
September 19th (2-8pm)
It is hard to believe that the official Grand Opening of this remarkable Gallery was a year ago!!! This is one of your best eXcuses to visit us every day....
An artist icon in the "Deep Ellum" area since 1992,
Leroy Roper has seen the rise and fall and rise of one Dallas' historic neighborhoods, and the citys' true Arts District, "Deep Ellum".
Mr. Roper is somewhat a "renaissance man";
first a writer (he was an award winning journalist
before graduating High school),
an artist ( he began drawing at age six,
when his older brother Charles put a pencil in his hand
and asked him to draw something),
a backdrop painter (He has painted backdrops
from 9x12 to 20 x 70 feet for films, commercials,
corporations and magazine advertisements),
a photographer (His photographs of
Erykah Badu are internationally recognized),
a bodyartist (Articles have been written about
Leroy's bodyart and fantasy photography throughout the world),
and the publisher of the online magazine "Gothic Vogue",
which is now in it's third year of existence.
"Being a writer by trade, I want all of my images to tell a story...
whether it be a drawing, a painting or a photograph"
and with a combination of hand-painted backgrounds,
painted bodies and photography, Leroy has produced what has
become known as The Fantasy Art Of Leroy Roper.
The major theme behind Leroy's work is "the empowerment of women". "There is a character in Greek mythology that
carries the weight of the world upon his shoulders,
I believe most women accomplish that feat on a daily basis.
We ALL come to the earth through the vessel of woman." says Roper,
and anyone who has known him over the years
has heard that statement repeated often.
Leroy also honors "Mother Nature" and is a true conservationist.
He believes that, "If we put a human face on nature
we will be less likely to destroy the planet."
His point being that if we can see ourselves in nature,
we will not hunt other species to extinction
nor destroy their natural habitats,
knowing that in doing so, we destroy ourselves....
Mr. Roper has now joined with eXcuses eXtreme Café
to house The Leroy Roper Gallery.
The gallery, of course, will be dominated by Mr. Roper's various talents.
He will also maintain an area for guest and featured artists.
The Cafe' boasts wonderful coffees, breakfasts,
sandwiches and beverages, all within a warm, friendly atmosphere
where free "wi-fi" is also available for patrons -
a great place to allow your own creative juices to be stimulated...
With regard to eXcuses, Mr. Roper says it like this,
"It is a beautiful location and like myself
and many others in the Deep Ellum area,
it is like a phoenix rising out of the ashes....
Out of the ashes to become a bright light and new beacon
to bring people back to our historic area.
At least this is my hope.
When people enter the gallery, I want them to feel warm, enlightened
and uplifted. And when they leave, I want them to be inspired."
...."As I have said in my publication,
'The most endangered species at this moment in time
is Creative Thought'
...The only wrong way to do art, is not to do it...
We may all be thinking the same thing, but YOU may be the only one
who can say it in a way that we all understand,
and if you do not say it, it may never be said.
Honor the gift of your presence by being yourself to the utmost."
- Leroy Roper
The Leroy Roper Gallery at eXcuses premiered September13, 2008
during the annual "Deep Ellum" Art Walk.
