diff --git a/docs/api/vgplot/plot.md b/docs/api/vgplot/plot.md
index dab7a989..766496aa 100644
--- a/docs/api/vgplot/plot.md
+++ b/docs/api/vgplot/plot.md
@@ -48,6 +48,25 @@ Return the "inner" width of the plot, which is the `width` attribute value minus
 
 Return the "inner" height of the plot, which is the `height` attribute value minus the `topMargin` and `bottomMargin` values.
 
+### status
+
+`plot.status`
+
+Return the `status` of a `Plot` instance (one of `idle`, `pendingQuery` and `pendingRender`).
+
+- Initial `status` is `idle`.
+- When marks are initially connected to coordinator (via `plot.connect()`) or when a mark of a plot has a pending query, status will change to `pendingQuery`.
+- When all pending queries of plot marks are done, status will change to `pendingRender`.
+- After rendering, status will change to `idle` again.
+
+There is a `status` event listener available, see `plot.addEventListener` and `plot.removeEventListener`.
+
+### connect
+
+`plot.connect()`
+
+Connect all [`Mark`](./marks) instances to coordinator.
+
 ### pending
 
 `plot.pending(mark)`
@@ -94,6 +113,12 @@ Adds an event listener _callback_ that is invoked when the attribute with the gi
 
 Removes an event listener _callback_ associated with the given attribute _name_.
 
+### addDirectives
+
+`plot.addDirectives(directives)`
+
+Adds directives to plot.
+
 ### addParams
 
 `plot.addParams(mark, paramSet)`
@@ -128,3 +153,16 @@ Called by [interactor directives](./interactors).
 Add a _legend_ associated with this plot.
 The _include_ flag (default `true`) indicates if the legend should be included within the same container element as the plot.
 Called by [legend directives](./legends).
+
+### addEventListener
+
+`plot.addEventListener(type, callback)`
+
+Add an event listener _callback_ function for the specified event _type_.
+`Plot` supports `"status"` type events only.
+
+### removeEventListener
+
+`plot.removeEventListener(type, callback)`
+
+Remove an event listener _callback_ function for the specified event _type_.
diff --git a/docs/api/vgplot/specs.md b/docs/api/vgplot/specs.md
index a800092a..4a177278 100644
--- a/docs/api/vgplot/specs.md
+++ b/docs/api/vgplot/specs.md
@@ -180,6 +180,14 @@ The supported external _options_ are:
 - _params_: An array (default `[]`) of predefined [`Param`](../core/param) instances. Each entry should have the form `[name, param]`.
 - _datasets_: An array (default `[]`) of preloaded browser-managed datasets (such as GeoJSON data). Each entry should have the form `[name, dataset]`.
 
+## parsePlotSpec
+
+`parsePlotSpec(specification, options, element)`
+
+Parse a JSON _specification_ of a single plot and return corresponding `Plot` instance.
+See `parseSpec` for supported _options_.
+If provided, the input _element_ will be used as the container for the plot, otherwise a new `div` element will be generated.
+
 ## specToModule
 
 `specToModule(spec, options)`
diff --git a/packages/core/src/index.js b/packages/core/src/index.js
index 43b818ba..b6735ad9 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/index.js
+++ b/packages/core/src/index.js
@@ -11,3 +11,4 @@ export { wasmConnector } from './connectors/wasm.js';
 export { distinct } from './util/distinct.js';
 export { synchronizer } from './util/synchronizer.js';
 export { throttle } from './util/throttle.js';
+export { AsyncDispatch } from './util/AsyncDispatch.js';
diff --git a/packages/vgplot/src/directives/plot.js b/packages/vgplot/src/directives/plot.js
index 16c1b601..95e33fde 100644
--- a/packages/vgplot/src/directives/plot.js
+++ b/packages/vgplot/src/directives/plot.js
@@ -3,8 +3,10 @@ import { Plot } from '../plot.js';
 
 export function plot(...directives) {
   const p = new Plot();
-  directives.flat().forEach(dir => dir(p));
-  p.marks.forEach(mark => coordinator().connect(mark));
+
+  p.addDirectives(directives.flat());
+  p.connect();
+
   return p.element;
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/vgplot/src/index.js b/packages/vgplot/src/index.js
index 7460ec1d..fcc7c58f 100644
--- a/packages/vgplot/src/index.js
+++ b/packages/vgplot/src/index.js
@@ -300,6 +300,7 @@ export {
 
 export {
   parseSpec,
+  parsePlotSpec,
   ParseContext
 } from './spec/parse-spec.js';
 
diff --git a/packages/vgplot/src/plot.js b/packages/vgplot/src/plot.js
index 5bb06593..72eed316 100644
--- a/packages/vgplot/src/plot.js
+++ b/packages/vgplot/src/plot.js
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { distinct, synchronizer } from '@uwdata/mosaic-core';
+import { coordinator, distinct, synchronizer, AsyncDispatch } from '@uwdata/mosaic-core';
 import { plotRenderer } from './plot-renderer.js';
 
 const DEFAULT_ATTRIBUTES = {
@@ -9,8 +9,10 @@ const DEFAULT_ATTRIBUTES = {
   marginBottom: 30
 };
 
-export class Plot {
+export class Plot extends AsyncDispatch {
   constructor(element) {
+    super();
+
     this.attributes = { ...DEFAULT_ATTRIBUTES };
     this.listeners = null;
     this.interactors = [];
@@ -23,6 +25,7 @@ export class Plot {
     this.element.value = this;
     this.params = new Map;
     this.synch = synchronizer();
+    this.status = 'idle';
   }
 
   margins() {
@@ -44,13 +47,22 @@ export class Plot {
     return this.getAttribute('height') - top - bottom;
   }
 
+  async connect() {
+    this.updateStatus('pendingQuery');
+
+    await Promise.all(this.marks.map(mark => coordinator().connect(mark)));
+  }
+
   pending(mark) {
+    if (this.status !== 'pendingQuery') this.updateStatus('pendingQuery');
+
     this.synch.pending(mark);
   }
 
   update(mark) {
     if (this.synch.ready(mark) && !this.pendingRender) {
       this.pendingRender = true;
+      this.updateStatus('pendingRender');
       requestAnimationFrame(() => this.render());
     }
     return this.synch.promise;
@@ -65,6 +77,7 @@ export class Plot {
     });
     this.element.replaceChildren(svg, ...legends);
     this.synch.resolve();
+    this.updateStatus('idle');
   }
 
   getAttribute(name) {
@@ -97,6 +110,10 @@ export class Plot {
     return this.listeners?.get(name)?.delete(callback);
   }
 
+  addDirectives(directives) {
+    directives.forEach(dir => dir(this));
+  }
+
   addParams(mark, paramSet) {
     const { params } = this;
     for (const param of paramSet) {
@@ -133,4 +150,9 @@ export class Plot {
     legend.setPlot(this);
     this.legends.push({ legend, include });
   }
+
+  updateStatus(status) {
+    this.status = status;
+    this.emit('status', this.status);
+  }
 }
diff --git a/packages/vgplot/src/spec/parse-spec.js b/packages/vgplot/src/spec/parse-spec.js
index 71af0c9e..4e1251d8 100644
--- a/packages/vgplot/src/spec/parse-spec.js
+++ b/packages/vgplot/src/spec/parse-spec.js
@@ -13,12 +13,12 @@ import { hconcat, vconcat, hspace, vspace } from '../layout/index.js';
 import { parse as isoparse } from 'isoformat';
 
 import { from } from '../directives/data.js';
-import { plot as _plot } from '../directives/plot.js';
 import * as marks from '../directives/marks.js';
 import * as legends from '../directives/legends.js';
 import * as attributes from '../directives/attributes.js';
 import * as interactors from '../directives/interactors.js';
 import { Fixed } from '../symbols.js';
+import { Plot } from '../plot.js';
 
 import {
   parseData, parseCSVData, parseJSONData,
@@ -99,6 +99,22 @@ export function parseSpec(spec, options) {
   return new ParseContext(options).parse(spec);
 }
 
+export function parsePlotSpec(spec, options, element) {
+  spec = isString(spec) ? JSON.parse(spec) : spec;
+
+  if (!('plot' in spec))
+    throw new Error('Plot spec requires a "plot" property.');
+
+  const parsePlot = (spec, ctx) => parsePlotInstance(spec, ctx, element);
+
+  return new ParseContext({
+    ...options,
+    specParsers: new Map([
+      ['plot', { type: isArray, parse: parsePlot }]
+    ])
+  }).parse(spec);
+}
+
 export class ParseContext {
   constructor({
     specParsers = DefaultSpecParsers,
@@ -273,13 +289,25 @@ function parseHConcat(spec, ctx) {
   return hconcat(spec.hconcat.map(s => parseComponent(s, ctx)));
 }
 
-function parsePlot(spec, ctx) {
+function parsePlotInstance(spec, ctx, element) {
   const { plot, ...attributes } = spec;
   const attrs = ctx.plotDefaults.concat(
     Object.keys(attributes).map(key => parseAttribute(spec, key, ctx))
   );
   const entries = plot.map(e => parseEntry(e, ctx));
-  return _plot(attrs, entries);
+
+  const p = new Plot(element);
+  p.addDirectives([...attrs, ...entries]);
+
+  return p;
+}
+
+function parsePlot(spec, ctx) {
+  const p = parsePlotInstance(spec, ctx);
+
+  p.connect();
+
+  return p.element;
 }
 
 function parseNakedMark(spec, ctx) {