For 16 years Todd Butler has used his remarkable talents as artist and interior architect to create exciting and interesting exhibits in the Atrium Display Case. “It’s an Alice-in-Wonderland kind of life,” says Todd, describing his total immersion in any particular scene he is working on. For him, a display is “like a story that is a whole,” and he wants to lead the viewer’s attention into the case and to “move the eye around” by the use of colors, elevation, and contrasts.
Todd is amazed at the number of collections residents have. Each one he has worked on has presented its own challenges, which he has enjoyed. After creating a plan for a display in his studio, he has found that he still had to make changes as he placed the items in the case.
Much to the sorrow of many grateful residents, Todd is retiring after producing well over 100 different displays.
The new permanent exhibit in the Display Case is another example of Todd’s work. It is the scrimshaw collection, which has been in the Lounge since the late Marion Rich donated it to Medford Leas in 2008. According to Todd, the scrimshaw needed three times the space it had, as well as better organization, “bringing similar things together, giving strength and unity.” Todd’s sense of design will always be on view in the Display Case.