Coos Art Museum presents A Feast of Dreams, a solo show of oil paintings by Utah-based artist Brian Hoover, April 24 through June 27, 2015. The opening reception is Friday April 24 from 5 to 7pm and coincides with the opening of Expressions West 2015 the Museum’s painting competition for artists from the western states and juried by Mr. Hoover. Brian Hoover’s highly detailed and symbolic work revolves around dreams, myth and spirituality. Often he begins works by spilling paint unto a canvas and then drawing out the subconscious images which arise. His work has been exhibited nationally and is part of many private and public collections. Hoover a Professor of painting and printmaking at Southern Utah University received art training at the Cleveland Institute of Art, Kutztown University and the State University of New York where he received his Master of Fine Arts degree. Hoover has participated in several Coos Art Museum exhibitions including Expressions West and in our Annual Maritime Art Exhibition. In 2009, he received a first place award in Expressions West for his painting “Girl with Fantastic Hat IX (Saturnalia).” Quoting from the artist statement: “My work is often described as surreal, but I associate myself more with a group of artists working in late 19th century Europe called the Symbolists, mythical and even quasi-religious themes occur in my work – usually humans and animals acting out some ambiguous hopefully fascinating narrative…. I have always been fascinated by religion, myth and other cultures…. I use intricate patterns, precious metals, and enigmatic imagery to try to create a sense of powerful myth and magic.”