Houston’s very own Christopher Cascio (b. 1976, New Orleans is a painter who often deals with the themes of obsession, compulsion and ritual. Much of his earlier collage and assemblage work appear to be direct byproducts of these tendencies, but more recently he seems to have found a way to channel his energy directly into a painterly process. As he says “painting these repetitive patterns and color combinations can work as a sort of psychic calming exercise, and the work is intended to carry that positive energy through to the viewer.”

He describes the work as “negative energy scrubbers,” and suggests this may well be the function of all art.
The “Sawtooth Wave” paintings in this exhibition evolve out of Cascio’s “Log House” series. Both series are loosely modeled after traditional quilt-making patterns. They evolve out of an earlier series of paintings that were indeed reminiscent of quilts, but constructed from collected ticket wrist-bands.

As a prolific artist who typically allows his work to develop rather scrupulously, Cascio takes a big step by adding diagonal lines to his vast repertoire of grid paintings. Made with tape and spray paint, this series of “aerosol paintings” are systematically planned and executed. Their arrangement at Front Gallery is no doubt intrinsic to this process.

In the last three years Cascio has mounted solo exhibitions in Dallas, Los Angeles, and New York. This is his second show at Front Gallery.