![Students color in designs by artist Susan Puailiau Lindsey on Thursday, May 30 during the APIDA (Asian Pacific Islander Desi American) Art Showcase at Western Washington University.](https://www.cascadiadaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/04-APIDA-240530-EV-1024x631.jpg)
![Charla Anne Larson sings a J-pop song while wearing a kimono from Okinawa, Japan, which is where her maternal family is from. Having a mixed background, Larson said she sometimes feels "not enough," but moments like these allow her to feel connected to her culture.](https://www.cascadiadaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/09-APIDA-240530-EV-1024x784.jpg)
![An audience, mostly composed of students, listens to Charla Anne Larson sing. While the turnout wasn't what organizers hoped for, they are excited to build on the first-time event in future years.](https://www.cascadiadaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/08-APIDA-240530-EV-1024x671.jpg)
![Hawaiian and Filipino artist Mer Pascual, who is the vice president of the Pacific Islander Student Association, reads their poetry. As one of the organizers of the showcase, Pascual believes the event highlighted APIDA (Asian Pacific Islander Desi American) voices in a joyous way rather than focusing on typical narratives of trauma and pain.](https://www.cascadiadaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/07-APIDA-240530-EV-720x1024.jpg)
![Akiko Victorson takes participants names and writes them in Japanese calligraphy. A practitioner for 40 years, she believes the art form parallels life as there are no do-overs. If you make a mistake, you must move on, Victorson said.](https://www.cascadiadaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/05-APIDA-240530-EV-1024x695.jpg)
![Shells and brochures rest on tables around the multipurpose room. The brochure cover was designed for the event by artist Susan Puailiau Lindsey.](https://www.cascadiadaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/03-APIDA-240530-EV-1024x630.jpg)
![Favio Guzman-Estrada's vibrant head piece was inspired by coral reefs, a vital part of marine ecosystems. Guzman-Estrada uses their art to draw attention to coral reefs, which are facing extinction at the hands of colonial powers and climate change, they said.](https://www.cascadiadaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/02-APIDA-240530-EV-1024x757.jpg)
![A painting of an octopus by Danielle Manahan. In her work, Manahan reflects her connection with and appreciation of the ocean.](https://www.cascadiadaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/01-APIDA-240530-EV-1024x703.jpg)
![Jaimee Wacker shares a collection of her photographs taken independently and for the Rage Magazine. As the realm of photography is mostly dominated by white people, Wacker tries to bring BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and other people of color) beauty and representation with her work, she said.](https://www.cascadiadaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/06-APIDA-240530-EV-1024x727.jpg)
Western Washington University hosted the inaugural APIDA (Asian Pacific Islander Desi American) Art Showcase on Thursday, May 30, including live artist performances like singing, poetry and photography. Attendees had their names rendered in Japanese calligraphy and could check out an art gallery created by APIDA students.