Sarah Bouchard Gallery in Woolwich presents artist Tom Butler’s solo exhibition “I Became A Room” from Aug. 16 through Sept. 21. An opening reception is from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16; RSVP required.

“I Became A Room” is an immersive installation featuring nearly 100 original room drawings created in isolation at the onset of COVID. What began for Butler as a means of passing time developed into an obsessive daily practice, resulting in hundreds of drawings over the course of one year. The work became a visual mantra — a way of processing the intensity of the time and creating safe space.

In a recent text written for Maine’s Arts Journal, Tom Butler wrote, “In lockdown, I became a room. I grew floors and walls, and sometimes ceilings. Mostly, I was a corner. People stood, ghosts floated, mice nibbled, and peepholes formed. Sometimes my walls and floors broke apart: wood splintered, joists groaned, and screws came loose.”

After a visit to his home in London, Butler recognized the drawings for their role in processing the loss of his father (also during COVID). The spaces and fractures he drew took on new relevance. Now, with uncertainty on the rise and a heightened need for safe spaces, Butler’s work feels even more poignant.

The gallery is located at 13 Nequasset Pines Road, Woolwich (directions provided with RSVP or appointment request). For more information, email sarah@sarahbouchardgallery.com or call 809-9670.