Critical Asian Narratives and Engagement at NC State is set to host its annual Asian Artist Showcase, themed “Habitat,” on March 8 from 6 to 9 p.m. in the Piedmont-Mountains Ballroom of Talley Student Union. The showcase, a cornerstone event of the organization, aims to provide a platform for Asian American artists to display and sell their work, fostering community and promoting representation on campus and beyond.

Founded in 2021, CRANE emerged from a need for an Asian American identity-centered club at NC State.

George Cyriac, a fourth-year studying mechanical engineering and one of CRANE’s coordinators, said the organization was created because there was little space for NC State’s Asian American students to convene outside of organizations more specific to Asian nationalities.

“We wanted to very much focus on what it was like to be an Asian American, specifically,” Cyriac said.

Harrison King, a third-year studying biological engineering and the media chair at CRANE, said that while the club is most known for its artist showcase and arts-related activities, its primary focus is on Asian American culture and community.

“First and foremost, we are an Asian American cultural club,” King said.

Both Cyriac and King discovered CRANE through the showcase, participating as artists before joining the board. They said the showcase is often a gateway for students to connect with CRANE and find a sense of belonging.

Beyond the showcase, CRANE hosts workshops, talking events and socials to educate and engage with the Asian American community. These initiatives cover a range of topics, from voter education to discussions on navigating identity and culture.

Crane extends its reach beyond NC State students, inviting artists and community members from across North Carolina and beyond to participate in the showcase.

“We definitely think we have something special with the showcase,” Cyriac said. “To the point where UNC doesn’t have something like that, so we get a lot of UNC people who join us for it.

This year’s theme, “Habitat,” was chosen to reflect the experiences of building community and finding a sense of place, particularly for Asian Americans.

“Every year we try to have a theme that relates in some way with the Asian American community and essentially building the sense of community,” Cyriac said.

As someone who immigrated to the U.S. four years ago, Cyriac said CRANE and a united Asian American community on campus helped him find a sense of belonging.

“I felt that CRANE did help me sort of find a new space for myself, and I did build a new environment for myself and all,” Cyriac said. “We came together and thought ‘Habitat’ could allude to that.”

King said “Habitat” also refers to creating or reclaiming space in the community for Asian Americans.

“We’re talking about habitat as reclaiming habitat, and Asian American stigma — working past that to feel really part of a community instead of ostracized from it,” King said.

Attendees can expect a diverse range of artistic expressions at the showcase, reflecting the experiences of Asian Americans. While CRANE’s social media imagery has leaned towards earthy and natural aesthetics, Cyriac said artists are welcome to submit work that resonates with them, regardless of the theme.

The showcase primarily operates as a platform for artists to sell their work directly to attendees, with CRANE taking no commission.

“We just provide a platform so artists can either market their work or sell,” Cyriac said.

King said in the past, CRANE has provided grants and supplies to support artists in creating work for the showcase.

The application process for artists involves submitting samples of their work and providing information about their artistic practice. The selection process is primarily focused on ensuring the artwork is appropriate for the setting and that the artists have a feasible plan for displaying and selling their work.

CRANE hopes that the artist showcase will contribute to Asian American representation and visibility on campus. King said the showcase has seen impressive attendance numbers in the past and has become a central part of the organization’s outreach efforts.

“CRANE has been a huge help to us, and we’ve also seen that in other artists and other Asian Americans that we see in our workshops and such, and we feel like we grew that community over time, and we’re really proud of it,” King said.

Cyriac emphasized CRANE’s role in uniting different facets of the Asian American community at NC State. As a “third culture kid,” meaning his parents were from one country, he grew up in another and later moved to the U.S., Cyriac said he found it challenging to find a sense of belonging in other cultural organizations on campus.

“CRANE gives a platform for some people who might not be able to find community in any of the other smaller clubs,” Cyriac said. “… CRANE is a pretty broad umbrella organization, and it gives space for a lot of different communities.”

CRANE collaborates with other student organizations and departments on campus. On March 27, CRANE will be partnering with the Multicultural Students Association to host a Chat ‘n Chew, where various Asian American topics and issues will be discussed over a meal.