Welcome to SoBo | April 4th | First Friday Event

April’s First Friday event at Lyndsay McCandless Contemporary is not your typical art opening. This month LMC celebrates an art movement, outside the box and off the square. A new neighborhood has been evolving in Jackson, SoBo (“South of Broadway”). The April edition of Outside Magazine notes, “Be sure to drop into SoBo (South of Broadway) reputed to be Jackson’s most happening art scene, anchored by the hip Lyndsay McCandless Contemporary and the galleries and performance spaces at the JH Center for the Arts.” All guests to LMC’s April First Friday event are encouraged to wear their favorite fancy or funky art viewing outfit in honor of SoBo: artist black, carharts, tee-jeans-diamonds, whatever it might be for you.

The light-hearted idea of referring to the area as SoBo evolved through a conversation that Lyndsay had with a friend in New York about her gallery and it’s unique and challenging location off the town square. “I am constantly trying to explain to people where we are located. South of Broadway, just a few blocks off the square. My friend said it could be called SoBro, haha. I thought it was actually a pretty good idea, except that SoBo flowed a little better and it leaned more to the artsy-side than the ski-side,” McCandless says.

A little research into the history of the moniker SoHo (the NY inspiration) yielded some interesting similarities between what is happening in Jackson and how the SoHo districts were formed in metropolises such as London, New York and Hong Kong. The name SoHo first appears in London in the 17th century and may have derived from an old hunting call, “SoHo! There goes a fox!” That hunting area of London has evolved over the centuries into a famous dining, entertainment and arts district. The SoHo district of Hong Kong walks the line between preserving the historical Chinese and colonial culture and recent modern developments. SoHo in New York is a trendy neighborhood that grew into a thriving arts community out of abandoned factories in the mid 1900’s.

“To me SoBo represents more then just a direction or the name of a neighborhood. It’s about embracing the potential, taking risks, and having fun with it all. It’s about community and creating a buzz and excitement around a central idea. Jackson has done an amazing job of promoting our Western heritage…this idea of SoBo adds an element of hipness and intrigue to that image. People get stuck circling the square. I hope SoBo inspires them to think outside the box and to take a walk around the outer neighborhoods of Jackson. The Center for the Arts, Muse Gallery, Craft, Wild Hands, Beads and Things, Shades, Trio…there are lots of creative, locally owned business on the south side of Broadway. There can be a whole discussion about the evolution of NoBo,too…Teton Art Lab, Oswald, etc., but that might be going to far right now.”

April’s First Friday will feature the local band LoFi. comprised of Andy Calder (bass), Jeff Eidemiller (guitar), Mark Longfield (keyboards), Ed Domer (drums), and Karee Miller (vocals). Lo-Fi plays soul-injected funk/jazz, along the lines of Soulive, Macy Gray, Galactic, and Herbie Hancock. Lo-Fi’s high-energy, unique, creative, sound gets the SoBo scene hopping! Lo-Fi shares McCandless’s enthusiasm about SoBo, “There’s just something very hip about a show at THE contemporary SoBo gallery!” said Calder. Please join us Friday, April 4 from 5:30-8pm for the SoBo celebration. Don’t forget to dress for the occasion.

-LMC