monca is proud to present two new exhibitions on view from Thursday, May 7, 2026 through Sunday, June 21, 2026.
Join us for the opening reception celebrating the exhibitions at monca on Friday, May 8, 2026 from 6-8PM. Admission to opening receptions is free for all and the museum bar will be open for beverage purchases. Learn more about the exhibitions below.
Plhis: Poetry Reimagined
Exhibit Statement
“Plhis: Poetry Reimagined” is a collaborative exhibit between literary artist Pa N. Vue and multimedia artist Maivzeb Lauj. This project explores how poetic works can “plhis” or “be transformed” from their original textual and aural form and emerge reimagined through multimedia and multimodal visual expressions. “Plhis” evokes the essence of transformation and rebirth, reflecting how meaning shifts, evolves, and finds new life when moving between artistic languages. Maivzeb will select poems from Pa’s collection Sawv Tsees Rov Hlo Los and re-present them as immersive multimodal artforms using multiple forms of media, including digital, textile, and paper.
A big thank you to Dr. Jenna Cushing-Leubner from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Funding for this work was partially supported by funding from the Office of Research and Evaluation at AmeriCorps under Grant No. 22RE249214 through the National Service and Civic Engagement research grant competition. Opinions or points of view expressed in this exhibition are those of the artists and do not necessarily reflect the official position of, or a position that is endorsed by, AmeriCorps.
Concept & Artistic Vision
Sawv Tsees Rov Hlo Los journeys across time through the memories of Pa N. Vue, critically examining how missionization, war, displacement, and assimilation impacted Hmong language and ways of knowing. And how Hmong people have reclaimed and can continue to reclaim their language. “Plhis” embodies the transformative power of cross-disciplinary artistic collaboration. Just as a caterpillar undergoes metamorphosis to emerge in a new form with its essence intact, this exhibit demonstrates how poetic meaning transforms while retaining its core when reimagined through multimedia art. Selected poems from Sawv Tsees Rov Hlo Los undergo a process of artistic “plhis,” emerging through Maivzeb Lauj’s interpretive lens, infused with her own lived experience, in forms ranging from immersive digital illustrations to tactile textile works and mixed media pieces.
This collaboration pushes the boundaries of language, art, and collaboration, creating a third space where poetry and visual art are neither separate nor merely complementary, but rather exist in dynamic conversation with one another. This exhibit is a visual display of intertextuality, wherein different forms of “text” engage with one another to create deeper understanding of one another individually and new meaning in conjunction. The exhibit invites viewers to not just see but experience how meaning is transformed through different cultural and artistic expressions, highlighting the beauty, depth, and embodied memory that lie in Hmong lived experience.
Artist statements
Pa N. Vue came to the U.S. when she was five years old as a child of Hmong refugees. She has a PhD in Education and researches Hmong language reclamation, literacy practices, and knowledge production. She is also an educator, writer, and content creator whose work centers Hmong language revalorization. She writes in White Hmong and English. Her first book of poems, Sawv Tsees Rov Hlo Los, was released in November 2024.
Maizeb Lauj, a creative designer based in California, specializes in helping conscious-minded individuals build authentic online presences. With over nine years of experience, she focuses her creative energy on purpose-driven visual communication, encompassing graphic design, illustration, web design, and multimedia experimentation. Passionate about collaborative creation and exploration, Stacey thrives on challenges and playing and has a drive for helping others bring their ideas to life.
Never Too Old...Never Too Young
Exhibit Statement
Designed and curated by the monca Junior Board, the exhibition titled "Never Too Old...Never Too Young" features art of many mediums created by local students of all ages. The monca Junior Board developed the exhibition concept to reduce the barriers to entry many new artists face in seeking to exhibit their work in museum and gallery spaces. Throughout the entry, jurying, and exhibition process, participants were able to learn about what to expect and prepare when it comes to professionally exhibiting their artwork. The pieces presented in the exhibition showcase the amazing talents of local students and work to imbue the importance of equity for developing artists.
The monca Junior Board is composed of a group of high school and college students from the North State region. They come together to create youth-focused art opportunities and volunteer as museum ambassadors, promoting artistic engagement to their peers. The Junior Board members plan and facilitate fun experiences like Visual Analysis parties and volunteer at community events representing the next generation of museum professionals and artists.
Artwork pictured by Maizeb Lauj
