Visual Abuse is an outrageous and optically rich collection of the halcyon days of illustrator and cartoonist Jim Blanchard, whose work from 1982–2002 intersected with punk rock, grunge, psychedelia, alternative comics, “zine” culture, portraiture, and “girlie” art.
The book gathers Blanchard’s different eras and disparate art styles into a cohesive whole. After self-publishing the punk rock/art fanzine Blatch in Oklahoma, Jim brought his act to Seattle, Washington in 1987, where the nascent “grunge” rock scene was poised to erupt. Visual Abuse assembles the best of Blanchard’s LP covers, posters and flyers from the hardcore punk era through grunge, including iconic Black Flag, Nirvana, and Soundgarden posters. Augmenting the posters are exclusive photographs from the shows, including shots by famed photographer Charles Peterson.
Also chronicled are page after page of Blanchard’s obsessive psychedelic art, bizarre sociopathic comics, exquisitely detailed pop culture portraits, twisted “glamour girl” art, and some tongue-waggin’ eyeball-poppin’ freaks, making this an overwhelming and long-overdue compendium by an elusive, dedicated, and complex artist.
WHO: Jim Blanchard
WHAT: Visual Abuse release party and exhibit
WHEN: Thursday June 1, 6-9pm
WHERE: Floating World Comics, 400 NW Couch St.
“A treasure trove of fucked-up shit from the dark end-times of a lost civilization.” — Daniel Clowes
“Blanchard is a master of texture and commands an extensive illustrative vocabulary. His pointillist portraiture never ceases to amaze.” – Juxtapoz