'Now Streaming'

Like rivers and streams adjust to their surroundings, I’m always reaching for more and pushing my boundaries to avoid letting things get stagnant.

These flowing waters remind me to keep moving forward. Like rivers and streams adjust to their surroundings, I’m always reaching for more and pushing my boundaries to avoid letting things get stagnant. When routine becomes stagnant, it’s no longer genuine. It’s not fresh anymore, and complacency has never been a goal of mine. Being next to the sound of this continuous movement brings me composure and the clarity I need for reflection. No matter the obstacle or accomplishment, this is my time to look back and embrace what’s ahead. Water is also nature’s mirror. As the surface reflects its surroundings, every color works together in absolute harmony. My thoughts and emotions become intertwined with this arrangement, and I find myself at peace.

“If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.”

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

Ben Bires is a small-town transplant from Western Pennsylvania. He grew up in the country spending most of his childhood outside with a pond and a state park in his backyard. His love for the outdoors brought him and his wife to Colorado Springs in 2016 shortly after earning a BFA from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania. They moved across the country together searching for new opportunities before their hometown roots became too deep. This change of scenery helped launch his community involvement as a local artist and painting instructor. He teaches classes and workshops at Cottonwood Center for the Arts and here at Kreuser Gallery.