“ri-ˈnü [renew]”, an Exhibition of Moss Art by Mona King

Arts Council Schedules “ri-ˈnü [renew]”, an Exhibition of Moss Art by Mona King  

October 20 – January 3 Show in Milton Rhodes Center’s Arboreal Gallery 

Winston-Salem, NC) October 12, 2020) –The Arts Council of Winston-Salem & Forsyth County is presenting “ri-ˈnü [renew]”, an exhibition of moss art and nature-inspired installations by Mona King, October. 20 –January 3. in the Arboreal Gallery of Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts located at 251 N. Spruce Street in downtown Winston-Salem.  Admission to the “ri-ˈnü [renew]” exhibition is free. COVID-9 protocols will be observed. 

Shannon Stokes, The Arts Council’s Patron Services and Events Manager, said, “We welcomed this unique exhibition because we believe it is art for our time. Amidst the pervasive current anxiety and disruption of COVID-19, it is an opportunity to pause, renew, invite calm, and enhance productivity and creativity. It is a peaceful and purposeful divertissement.” 

For Mona King, “ri-ˈnü [renew]” means to begin again after interruption and continue your journey supported by remembering those times in nature of childhood that we need today.  King said it’s a way to re-set, re-start, and get on with your “wild and precious life”, in the words of poet Mary Oliver.

King sees this exhibition at this time as “an antidote to stress”, saying, “As we naturally seek ways to reduce the stress on our minds and bodies, nothing comforts and renews us as quickly and as beautifully as the natural world. Nature evokes childhood memories of playing in the great outdoors: in grass, meadows, streams and fresh air. We are innately connected with nature and easily experience mindfulness in a natural environment.” 

King is founder of MONA + ASSOCIATES DESIGN, a multi-discipline, collaborative design group with a core focus on creating holistically designed spaces and services that promote wellness in the built environment. A portion of its LIVING AURA living art and walls sales is donated to arts-based nonprofits.   

King is a professionally trained artist/designer/Interior Architect who, as a part of her work and service to clients, designs and produces moss art and wall installations under the LIVING AURA trademark using a wide range of textures, colors and natural materials. The result is that the viewer is reconnected with the natural world and “renewed”.  Her other nature-inspired art includes paper casting and intaglio etchings.  

 She earned the Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts degree from Indiana University and the Bachelor of Science in Interior Architecture degree from UNC-Greensboro.  She was in the initial cohort and is a graduate of the Creative Catalyst Certificate program of Thomas S. Kenan Institute for the Arts, UNC School of the Arts 2020.

 For information about the exhibition, call 336-722-2585 or visit www.intothearts.org. For more information about artist Mona King, call 336-765-4639 or visit www.monaassociates.com.