By APASA intern Pushpita

If there’s one thing I’ll always remember about APASA’s Cultural Arts Expo (CAE) in 2025, it’s this: it wasn’t just an event—it was a labor of love, creativity, and community. The entire night felt like a whirlwind, in the best way.I remember being on my feet most of the time, but also constantly in awe of everything happening around me.

Hosted by APASA on March 27, 2025, the Cultural Arts Expo is our annual celebration of APIDA (Asian Pacific Islander Desi American) creativity and expression. From performances and visual art to handmade goods and food, it’s a night where APIDA students and artists share their work, their stories, and their joy.

This year’s theme, Mis(take) Pride, was curated by Kat Nguyen, our 2024–2025 Diversity Chair. Inspired by the look of a travel journal or scrapbook, the theme invited us to let go of the pressure to be perfect—something many of us in the APIDA community carry silently. Instead of striving for flawlessness, we asked ourselves: What if we embraced the mistakes? What if they were part of the art?

That message came through in every part of the event—from the colorful flyers to the lineup of vendors who brought everything from handmade jewelry to zines, clay charms, and vintage finds. The whole space felt soft, honest, and creative in a way that didn’t require performance. It just welcomed presence.

I had the honor of emceeing the night alongside Anika Nedunuri, a fellow APASA intern. We kicked things off with a breathtaking performance from the Los Angeles Yue Opera Troupe, followed by incredible sets from groups like Spade A (USC’s K-pop dance team), Traditional Chinese Dance, Trogons A Cappella, and Asli Baat, USC’s South Asian fusion a cappella team. Each performance felt like its own world.

In between sets, we introduced some of our vendors, many of whom are USC students and independent artists. Just to name a few:

dizzy lil animals by Allison Ma, with hand-sewn creations and zines exploring joy outside of capitalist structures
Happy Moment by Jerah Lee, filled with vintage Sanrio, Y2K fashion, and nostalgic gems
Crystal Charm Nails and Sabrina Kha, who offered reusable press-ons with sizing stations right at the table
marin, Jayden Chen, Tian Yang, Annie Nishida, and Alice Yin (one of our APASA interns!), whose tables were filled with original prints, comics, magazines, and stickers that reflected so many unique perspectives within the APIDA experience

Later in the night, we opened up the flea market portion of the event with food from Nong Lá Café and Urban Masala—bánh mì sandwiches, spring rolls, mango lassi, and options for everyone. People gathered at the photo booth, lined up for Polaroids, and decorated their snapshots with doodles and stickers at the APASA table.

We closed out the night with a raffle featuring prizes like a record player, a Sakura book nook, a Miffy speaker, and a disposable camera. There were cheers, selfies, and a lot of people sticking around even after the final announcement.

Of course we ended the night with a big round of applause for Kat, whose vision made the entire night possible. She brought so much intention and warmth to this year’s expo, and it showed in every detail of the event.

Final Thoughts:
CAE 2025 reminded me that art doesn’t have to be polished to be powerful. Sometimes, the most meaningful moments happen when we give ourselves space to be unfinished, playful, or unsure. That’s what Mis(take) Pride was about—and it’s something I’ll carry with me.

Thank you to everyone who performed, sold art, helped plan, or simply came to support. You made this night what it was.

—Pushpita

Embracing the Art of Imperfection – Cultural Arts Expo 2025