Artists have played with tricks of visual perception forever. The ancient Greeks used optical illusions in their temples. Michelangelo used it in his sculpture of David tapering the figure so that it got larger toward the top in order to look normal when viewed from below. Perhaps the most famous pioneer of modern op art was M.C. Escher - he of the stairways that go nowhere.

Op art became a popular movement in the 1960s and early '70s with artists such as Bridget Riley, Richard Anuszkiewicz and Victor Vasarely with their brilliantly patterned paintings that seemed to shimmer and pulsate, and reverse positive and negative, in and out.

Tacoma Art Museum is now celebrating that movement with a collection of works from its permanent collection including works by Riley, Anuszkiewicz, Vasarely and others.

Read Alec Clayton's full review of "Optic Nerve: The Art of Perception" in the Music and Culture section.

"OPTIC NERVE: THE ART OF PERCEPTION," 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.Wednesdays-Sundays, 5-8 p.m. third Thursdays, through April 20, 2014, 1701 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, $10, $8 student/military/senior, 5 and younger free, 253.272.4258

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Calendar: Arts and Entertainment

Calendar: Music and Nightlife