Blast

'Blast' is the appropriate name LEWIS gave to his publication. It was the main propaganda tool of the movement, and lasted two editions. Blast (or 'Blast 1' as it became known in retrospect) was published in June 1914 and Blast 2 early in 1915 (which was also subtitled the 'War Number' as WW1 had broken out by then). Blast was a useful manifesto-vehicle for the Vorticist movement in general and LEWIS in particular. Blast 1 was a PUCE monster, having a cover in this colour background (#ff00ff) and it was VERY INFLUENTIAL due to the way the type was laid out. HOW? The lines were often broken up by an occassional word in a much larger font than the surrounding text.

Blast 1 included the text of a play, a review of art as it existed at the

It also included the now famous pages of subjects either 'Blasted' or 'Blessed' depending on how they were seen by the fledgeling Vorticists. 'Blast' pages generally had a go at Fry, the Bloomsbury set, the average art critic, and Putney (for some reason). Amongst those being Blessed are hairdressers and mariners. The latter two professions were celebrated because they both battle against elemental nature.

Tonks, the Slade drawing tutor has the unique honour of being both 'Blessed' and 'Blasted'.