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C.A. Hurst has a vision: to incite change through creativity.
Hurst of Kennewick is the guy behind Circus of Creativity, an Oct. 24 event designed to highlight the talents of the area's young people.
The free Kennewick event features music, poetry readings, dancing, drama snippets and visual art displays.
Some of that art includes a face and body art demonstration by Mindy Cockrell of Richland, as well as some interactive opera performed by members of the Washington East Opera Company.
The music includes solo acts as well as bands performing punk, rock, folk, classical and bluegrass.
Hurst has worked with young people as a counselor for decades, both with Job Corps and as a program director at a residential treatment center in Albuquerque, N.M.
"I moved here (from Albuquerque) in mid-May to be closer to my family," he said. "There's not a lot of positive stuff for kids to do around here and I wanted to do something about that."
Circus of Creativity is the first event to kick off what he hopes will be monthly events for young people to express themselves artistically, whether through music, art, drama, dance or anything else that shows wholesome creativity.
That's why he created Catalyst, which he describes as a nonprofit dedicated to inciting change through creativity.
"A guy once said to me, 'Cool marches on,' and I think that's how kids see life," he said. "What's hot and hip today will change by tomorrow."
All the performers in Circus of Creativity are from around the Mid-Columbia. Here's the lineup for the Oct. 24 event:
Hiz Haven and Barley bands play alternative music; vocalist Ariel Knudsen will accompany herself with guitar; Bryson Foster raps a positive message with hip hop, R&B and blues; the Midnight Jammers from Kennewick High perform break dancing; Nick "2 Quik" Longoria spins a positive message through rap; vocalist Rebecca Muse performs a mix of alternative music; Cris Rios, 6, performs some dances moves to rival Michael Jackson; vocalist Travis Garland sings folk and rock tunes; the Third Rail Band plays alternative music; James Brennan and Matt Newlun recite poetry; Spero is a trio of musicians who play acoustic folk.
There also will be a mini guitar workshop throughout the event given by Dalton Cole, a guitarist for the band Third Rail, and Nick Meng, guitarist with the Band Barley. And, Mindy Cockrell of Richland, will demonstration her face and body art expertise from 4 to 6 p.m.
"This will be particularly fun for the younger children," Hurst said.
Hurst said he plans to hold upcoming Catalyst events at different locations, and each one will have a different name that the youth will help him come up with.
"I've worked with young people for many years and I have a lot faith in kids, and there are so many talented ones in this area," Hurst said. "Just come out to the Circus of Creativity and you'll find out."
