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Formato Fine Arts Gallery in Wytheville, Virginia, has been honored to present State of Emergency, the debut solo exhibition of Mackenna Hanson. Drawing from deeply personal experience of climate crisis and navigating being an upcoming artist, Hanson’s work—described in her own words as a reflection of “the disturbance of today’s climate—both environmental and social” (Introduction)—has sparked meaningful conversation within our community. Her artistic process, as detailed in her essay Artistic Process: A Conceptual Exploration (Process), merges traditional mediums such as oil paint, gouache, and ink with unconventional supports like cardboard, paper, and found media. This approach allows for layered, complex imagery in which “cryptic symbols, anonymous figures, and unsettling spaces” confront the viewer with multiple interpretations and emotional registers. The exhibition has been a success by every measure. Opening night drew a large and engaged audience, with multiple works acquired by members of the community for their private collections, including Parking |
 BCS, Oil on Found Cardboard |
 Mackenna (right) and Lily (left) posing at State of Emergency Show.
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Lots, Ballerina, Nurse!, and BCS. Each acquisition extends the life of Hanson’s work beyond the gallery, carrying her vision into new contexts. The atmosphere was amplified by a live performance from Momma Molasses, a Bristol, TN–based folk musician whose original album navigates themes of sorrow, happiness, and Americana. Her guitar and voice resonated with the layered emotions in Hanson’s paintings, creating an evening where sound and image spoke to one another. |
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As State of Emergency approaches its closing date on August 31st, we invite you to view the show’s remaining works either in person or online at formatoart.com. This post includes photographs of the works already acquired—a testament to the strong connection between Hanson’s art and the community that embraced it. Hanson’s debut has been more than an exhibition; it has been an exchange—between artist and audience, between visual and musical storytelling, and between the urgency of our times and the creative voices that bear witness to it. |
BCS, Oil on Found Cardboard |
