“I’ve been part of the local arts scene for about 11 years,” Bugg says. “I’m excited about creating more of a community vibe in Chandler.”
Bugg earned his master of fine arts degree in photography at Arizona State University in 2010. He served as director for ASU’s student galleries from 2011 to 2015. From 2015 to 2017, he worked at Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art.
Most recently, Bugg served as curator of programming at SMoCA, where his duties included planning exhibition-related programs and events, as well as working with docents.
His public art responsibilities for the City of Chandler will include working on plans to revamp the Chandler Museum.
“We’re rebranding what used to be the Chandler History Museum,” Bugg says. “Chandler moved the collection into storage while it is working on renovations and an addition.” Those should be done by late 2018, he says.
Vision Gallery, which is operated by the City of Chandler.
Lynn Trimble
“We’re working on murals to bring more of a focal point to downtown,” Bugg says. He’s currently crafting a call for art, which could go out as early as the end of April.
Bugg is also working on future exhibitions. In addition to its main Vision Gallery, the City operates a satellite gallery inside Chandler Center for the Arts. Both venues had been programmed through August when Bugg assumed his new position.
His first two exhibitions for Vision Gallery will open in September. In the main gallery, Bugg will be showing photographs of Chandler residents. At the Chandler Center for the Performing Arts, he’ll feature works by Laura Spalding Best and Cam DeCaussin. In October, he’ll present a Brent Bond and Santo Press retrospective at the performing arts center.
“We’ll be showing a good mix of media and subject matter, mostly by artists working in the Valley or other parts of Arizona,” Bugg says. “I’m excited to be able to work closely with local artists to give them more opportunities.”
