The Rehoboth Art League is pleased to present an exhibition of the artwork of Edward L. Loper, Jr., a self-taught Delaware artist who created a unique perspective in the Loper tradition, with a creative career spanning more than sixty years. To Water’s Edge and Back is an exhibition of work that represents the most complete display of Loper, Jr.’s paintings that capture the artist’s journeys along the East Coast. Mr. Loper’s exhibiting artworks harness the subdued nature of large bodies of water and their surrounding areas. Soft blues and quiet reds accompanied by strong angular shapes mirror the meditative force near any shore. He also draws our attention to the stark contrast of living further inland. Paintings of bold outlines, complex structures, and even characters appear. It is a vivid reminder that life is a journey of ebbs and flows between self and the greater collective.

Given the Rehoboth Art League’s proximity to Coastal Delaware, and its proclivity to inspire nautical themes for exhibiting artists, the focus on maritime magic is a natural fit for this display. This collection of artworks is stewarded by the artist’s son, Jamie Loper, and curated by Shameka Jones.

Edward L. Loper, Jr. (1934-2023) was a native Delawarean, born and raised in Wilmington. An early inclination for drawing and capturing what he saw led him into creative careers at Wilmington High School, where he taught Art, Photography, and Woodworking, as well as at the West End Neighborhood House, where he led instruction for art, pottery, and sculpture. He was accepted at the prestigious Barnes Foundation in Lower Merion, PA, studying there in 1977 and 1978.

Loper, Jr.’s works have been collected by individuals, showcased at the Barnes Foundation, and are included in esteemed collections at the State of Delaware, the Brandywine River Museum of Art, the Biggs Museum of American Art, as well as in corporate collections, including Wilmington Trust, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Christiana Care, and Delaware Trust.