Selma Art Guild announces Besser couple from Tennessee as featured artists

The Selma Art Guild’s featured artists of the month for August and September will be the husband-and-wife couple John and Susan Besser of Franklin, Tenn.

The Bessers have been active in preservation and research on the architecture of Selma for the past 20 years. A reception for their joint art show will be held on Sunday, August 2 from 2-4 p.m. at Selma Art Guild Gallery, located at 508 Selma Ave.

The show will remain available for viewing Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the SAG Galley. 

Susan creates jewelry primarily as gifts for friends and her business Jewels by Susan that make use of authentic crystals and freshwater pearls. Since 2012, John has embraced watercolor and took lessons from notable artist Shelley Snow. His methods involve the details of the subject focusing on the essence of the subject which draws your attention to the piece.

Susan Besser has published “A Field Guide to Selma’s Architectural Legacy” based on research done the past 20 years.

She is a Tennessee registered interior designer and a passionate preservationist, who has a master's degree in Historic Preservation from Middle Tennessee State University and Bachelor of Arts from O’More College Design. 

She has been involved in preservation in Franklin, Tenn., for many years. She focused her practice on residential and commercial design.

Susan Besser received the Nashville District Practitioner of the Year Award in 2012 from the Tennessee State ASID Chapter and the O’More Distinguished Faculty of the Year Award in 2014. She has been recognized for her designs by receiving the ASID Gold Award for Small Kitchen Design in 2016, 2018 and 2022 and First Place in Showhouse Design in 2014.

She received ASID Tennessee State Award for Educator of the Year in 2018 & 2022. She taught at O’More School of Design now at Belmont University for 24 years focusing on historic preservation, kitchen design and design history classes.

Susan Besser gravitated toward making jewelry 16 years ago and on her retirement from O’More two years ago became more involved in the process. She said, “I create jewelry primarily as gifts for friends as it brings me joy. I also do jewelry on commission and custom design pieces. It gives me a creative outlet.”

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Besser said she is very honored to be featured by the Selma Art Guild and looks forward to meeting all the patrons. “Over the years of doing my research, I have developed many close friends in Selma,” she said.

John Besser has advanced degrees in business and chemistry, which he utilized in a career of product development and design in consumer products. He achieved management levels in design and manufacturing, overseeing domestic and overseas operations. John also taught college level chemistry after retiring from industry. 

He has been involved in affordable housing efforts since the early 1990s, becoming executive director of the local Habit for Humanity affiliate.

Since 2012, John embraced watercolor. His methods involve the details of the subject, focusing on the essence of the subject which draws your attention to the piece. 

He said that bright and vibrant colors, for which he is known, “enhance the details the watercolor,” and they “can take on a realistic look and feel, bringing warmth and presence to the art.”

John said his subjects include pieces that invoke warm and joyful memories or just bring a smile.

He said, “I have visited Selma nearly every year for 25 years supporting Susan in her preservation work and book on Selma architecture…therefore I feel honored to present some of my watercolors at the Selma Art Guild Show. I hope the patrons will enjoy seeing some familiar sites presented in watercolor as well as scenes from around the world. This is indeed a blessing to be part of this show.”

The couple will celebrate 57 years of marriage this fall. They have two children, Jackie and Joe and three grandsons.

The Selma Art Guild, a nonprofit organization, was founded in the 1970s to promote and support local artists and give them an opportunity to show their work.