You’re likely at the Chesterbrook Shopping Center to pick up groceries or grab a coffee, but lately, a different kind of storefront has been stopping residents in their tracks. It’s a space filled with canvases and sculptures that feel remarkably like home.
For Jane McElvany Coonce, Gallery Director of the McLean Art Gallery, this "pop-up" space is the latest chapter in a story that began in 1955. What started as the McLean Art Club has evolved into a vital cultural anchor. “A community without art lacks a soul,” Jane says. As high rents force many local galleries to close, this partnership with Federal Realty allows art to remain exactly where the people are.
Finding Your Focus
For many, walking into a gallery feels like an invitation to be judged on what they know, or don’t know, about art history. Jane is determined to change that. To her, the gallery isn't a museum; it’s a place to practice the simple act of looking.
“Galleries should not be intimidating,” Jane explains. “I encourage people to like what they like and not feel that you need an advanced degree to enjoy art.”
She often gives first-time visitors a homework assignment: walk the room and pick the one piece you would take home if you could. It’s a strategy designed to transform passive observers into active participants. Jane recalls a visitor transfixed by a painting of a boat moored along an autumn shoreline. Puzzled by her own fascination—especially since she didn’t even like boating—the woman listened as Jane explained the visual science at work. The artist had used complementary colors, pairing the deep blues of water with the vibrant oranges of leaves to naturally stimulate the eye.
“As I talked about the artwork, she agreed that the colors really did catch her eye,” Jane says. “She ended up buying the piece.”
A Neighborhood Connection
Instead of sourcing talent from international hubs or major cities like New York, the gallery stays close to home intentionally. The artists on the walls are the same neighbors you run into at the post office. During "First Friday" receptions, the people standing next to the paintings are often the creators themselves.
That connection extends behind the desk. Mentorship has become a consistent aspect of Jane's approach to the community-based gallery, as she has taken two local college students under her wing. After meeting them at a reception, she invited them to see what it takes to maintain a cultural hub.
"We have them assist with receiving artwork, hanging shows, and gallery sitting," Jane explains. It’s a hands-on education in the "whole gamut" of the industry, teaching them that a successful gallery requires as much logistical coordination as it does creative vision.
More Than Just a Show
The gallery’s mission extends far beyond the frames. To satisfy a growing appetite for hands-on creativity, the Society offers classes in watercolor, drawing, and pen-and-ink. It also hosts practical workshops, such as a recent lecture by interior designer Barbara Hawthorn on the nuances of selecting and placing art within a home.
The beauty of a pop-up gallery is its immediacy. While its stay in Chesterbrook depends on when the storefront is permanently leased, the impact on the town’s cultural fabric feels anything but temporary. Whether you’re looking for a new centerpiece for your living room, a new skill, or simply want to take Jane’s "homework assignment" for a test drive, the gallery offers a rare chance to slow down and connect.
How to Stay Connected
The gallery rotates its entire collection at the start of every month.
- Visit: Stop by the Chesterbrook Shopping Center to see the latest specialty show.
- Meet the Artists: Join the community for "First Friday" receptions.
- Learn: Check https://www.mcleanartsociety.com for a schedule of upcoming classes.
- Join the List: Email gallery@mcleanartsociety.org for event announcements.
Jane McElvany Coonce shares how to make your next gallery visit meaningful:
1. Play the Take Home Game: Don’t feel pressured to love everything. Challenge yourself to pick exactly one piece you’d hang in your home. "It makes you a better observer," Jane explains.
2. Spot the Technical Magic: If a piece draws you in, look at the colors. Artists use complementary colors (opposites like blue and orange) to create visual vibrance that naturally attracts the eye.
3. Talk to the Artist: The gallery is all-volunteer, so the person greeting you is likely an artist on the wall. Ask about their process; the story behind a piece creates a lasting connection.