MERGER STUDIOS : ALLEN S. ROBST & AVERY BUTTERWORTH



For those with open eyes Jacksonville has held a huge pool of talent untouched for many years, boiling with energy just below the Bible-Belt and beach-strewn surface. Thankfully, the city and the planet is waking up to this fact, with many new venues opening to show works were there once were only pockets of underground, and generally under-funded or unadvertised heathens blazing new paths for our visual cortex. In many cases, the unknowns have been sustaining themselves with art ventures funded out of town, or at least supplementing their habits while forming careers designed to pave the way for more creation. Merger Studios is one such venture, relatively newly-formed, and perhaps just barely-saved from the lures of more culturally advanced cities.






Merger Studios is the brainchild of Allen S. Robst and Avery Butterworth. Both are multi-talented individuals have been pursuing their art for many years, but were contemplating leaving our fair city until they were given the opportunity to show their work to phenomenal response at Saturday Night Seduction's Renaissance party. The portals of perception have opened like Pandora’s box, and Merger has continued to fill the senses of patrons to venues and events since.






Allen's keen eye for twisted sensuality and Avery's gritty visual incantations complement each other perfectly, and while retaining their own direction they both collaborate well. Avery has been drawing and painting since he was knee-high to a grasshopper, and has pursued commercial work illustrating for White Wolf Publishing. Allen has been working in photography for 10 years and has shot subjects from fashion to fantastical erotic pin-up. Both have tendencies toward the more recessed elements of the human psyche.




Most recently, Merger Studios displayed works at the Convergence X convention in Chicago. They are looking forward to furthering their exposure in Jacksonville with some major shows this year. Stay tuned to the pages of Movement for updates, and on their portfolio site www.MergerStudios.com for a vast array of art, updates on events, and high-quality prints for your own personal viewing pleasure.

 

www.MergerStudios.com