To know Jim Bess works of art read CASA Magazine November 12, 2010. Click on article under Main Image.

“I believe that everything consists of energy or life-force and its through this mysterious energy force that we are all connected”, Jim Bess.

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Coop and Patti Cooprider, upon moving to San Diego, CA. from Germany, got involved in supporting the ART Community. One way, was 'connecting' with people like themselves who loved the ARTS. There was ARTwalk, SDAI, Museums, their interest in new artists, . . . and one of many they met was Jim Bess. Patti remembers that not long before Jim and Dianne were planning a move - and Jim unfortunately was battling cancer - he showed her a few recent artworks. Patti bought them on the spot.

Excerpt from Scot Mc Dougall on working with a "Santa Fe artist, Frank Howell. He needed some help with his gallery in #La_Jolla and asked if I would help out for 6 months or so. At the time he was showing a San Diego artist, by the name of Jim Bess. Jim and his photographer wife, Dianne were visiting Santa Fe to see the gallery. We hit it off from the start. They graciously offered to let me stay in their home while I was in town. That was 26 years ago and I am still living in San Diego. My early years in San Diego were spent in the East Village on 9th and K, currently known as the First base line at Petco Park. The building was the Artplex and was the brain child of Jim and Dianne Bess as they expanded their greeting card business to that address. Ultimately deciding on giving up the greeting card business and instead decided to make it their home. With 14,000 square feet, that’s a lot of home. So, they took the top floor and turned into a private residence, with a working elevator, and Jim’s painting studio. The rest of the building would house a variety of artistic endeavors. Jim even converted the basement into a printing studio later on." - Courtesy EAST VILLAGE PROJECT 2014