'SoBo' connotes Jackson's most happening art zone

By Melanie White | Jackson Hole News & Guide

Soho, London. SoHo, New York City.

SoBo, Jackson Hole.

Adopting an urban-trendy contraction for the downtown area south of Broadway, the owner of Lyndsay McCandless Contemporary hopes that christening the spot with a cosmopolitan moniker will identify it as a "hip" art zone. In recent years, "there has been a really wonderful emergence of a whole variety of expressions of art" in the area around her gallery, Lyndsay McCandless said. While the notion of "SoBo" started as something of a joke, it has evolved into a potential marketing ploy, aided in party by the April issue of Outside magazine.

In a segment about Jackson, the 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. McCandless emphasises that the notion of SoBo is not meant to revolved around her gallery, but "to encompass the whole sort of area."

"It's good PR for everyone," she said, referring to the Muse Gallery, Craft Gallery and the Center for the Arts, as well as eateries like Trio and Shades, all of which sit south of Broadway. The label draws attention to "a whole other element to Jackson besides the whole traditional, historic elements of town."

At the outset of the off-season, McCandless' "First Friday" event celebrates the "SoBo" philosophy with "An Art Funkshun," from 5:30-8 p.m. on Friday at the gallery. Lo-Fi - a band of familiar valley musicians and singer Karee Miller - will perform live funk music and drinks will be available. McCandless encourages art lovers to dress up in "their favorite fancy or funky art viewing outfit in honor of SoBo."

The idea behind SoBo evolved from a conversation McCandless had about her gallery's location off the Town Square. "I am constantly trying to explain to people where we are location," she said. "South of Broadway, just a few blocks off the square. My friend said it could be called 'SoBro.' 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."

Another element of the First Friday function will be a fund raising auction to support the Center of Wonder's "ArtSpot" sign on the corner of Scott Lane and Broadway. The auction of two banners by Ryan Haworth, which have been hanging besides the ArtSpot, will probably start at $400. Proceeds from sales of artwork at Lyndsay McCandless Contemporary throughout April will also support the ArtSpot, which displays work by area artists. From April through June, Wilson fifth-graders will decorate the sign with an eco-friendly installation.

Plus McCandless is quick to note, the ArtSpot is technically part of SoBo, too. "Jackson has done an amazing job of promotion our Western heritage," she said. "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 other neighborhoods of Jackson," she said.

Celebrating ArtSPOT; SoBo; JHCS at Muse

Henry Sweets | Planet Jackson Hole

Jackson Hole, Wyo.-Lyndsay McCandless Contemporary (LMC) is hosting an event from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on Friday to benefit the ArtSPOT and celebrate what might become a new movement in Jackson’s art world.

The ArtSPOT is a public exhibition space located on the old Chevron sign, next to the Best Western Lodge. Bland Hoke Jr. was driving by the sign last year while it was draped with black plastic and he thought it should be re-purposed as an art exhibition space. The project was then picked up by the Art Association and the Center for Wonder, and it now serves to inject a little art into thousands of passing motorists’ days.

In a recent project inspired by artist David Edgar, Wilson School 5th graders have reworked would-be waste with heat guns, scissors and grommet tools to create a sculpture depicting fish, flowers, and other things from the earth. The sculpture will hang Thursday, weather permitting, and will remain on display at the ArtSPOT through June.
Ryan Haworth made large banner prints of his colorful bird paintings to hang at the ArtSPOT, and they will be auctioned at LMC’s Friday event with bids starting at $400. In addition to these funds, McCandless is giving a percentage of her April sales to the Artspot.

The opening is not just about the Artspot, but is an opportunity to channel some recent publicity and embolden a movement in Jackson’s contemporary art scene.
A piece in the April edition of Outside magazine reads, “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.”

While talking with a friend about the challenges of owning an art gallery off of the Town Square the idea of SoBo came up, McCandless said. She was always trying to explain to people where her business was located, a few blocks south of Broadway on Jackson Street. After she came up with the name, she realized that there was potential in it to flesh out a movement that was already happening.

“It’s sort of something that evolved … it can help the whole community, whether it’s my neighborhood or even more of Jackson,” McCandless said. “The concept of SoBo, being another sort of new cultural experience of Jackson, can only add another level of interest for people coming in to Jackson.”

The SoHo District in New York came into its own after factories were vacated and artists moved in. Eventually the artistic character blended with old industrial iron facades and rendered the streets south of Houston (SoHo) one of the hippest ’hoods in the world. McCandless drew inspiration from that historic transformation and the way it re-generated old character with new creativity.

“The square will always be the square … but only certain businesses can survive there due to financial reasons, or the type of business they are,” said McCandless. She wants to “hold on to the western image or myth, while also trying to embrace the changes” of our iconic western town. As the vacant lots and older buildings on the outskirts of our town center are developed, the changing neighborhoods will have a chance to form their own identity.

Ideally a SoBo event would be more like a “block party”where multiple galleries or businesses host people, McCandless said - and watch out for those sorts of community-building events this summer.

Gallery-goers are encouraged to wear their favorite art viewing outfit, whether formal, funky or downright casual. McCandless calls it is an opportunity to get dressed up for a night on the town, to express creativity or just to feel relaxed.

Local band Lo-Fi featuring Andy Calder, Karee Miller, Mark Longfield, Ed Domer, and Jeff Eidemiller will be providing some funk tunes at the party, and refreshments will be provided. Lyndsay McCandless Contemporary is at 130 S. Jackson Street.