COLUMBUS, OH.- Take a magic carpet ride back in time and experience the movement that redefined the art world. OPTIC NERVE: Perceptual Art of the 1960’s will be on view exclusively at the Columbus Museum of Art, February 16 – June 17, 2007. Showcasing works by 55 international artists and collaborative groups, OPTIC NERVE includes fashion and design objects that illustrate the movement’s influence on the pop culture of the 1960s. Support for OPTIC NERVE is provided by Presenting Sponsor National City.

The first comprehensive survey of Op Art by an American museum in more than twenty-five years, the exhibition examines the development and lasting influence of the international movement exploring perceptual phenomena in painting, sculpture, and light installation. Combining color and abstract patterns, the works produce optical illusions of pulsating movement through precise, mathematically-based composition.

“Op Art had a profound effect on the course of contemporary art, provoking a more interactive viewing experience,” said Joe Houston, associate curator for contemporary art at the Columbus Museum of Art. “This is art that heads directly to the nervous system and draws attention to our own processes of seeing and believing. As Bridget Riley put it, ‘perception is the medium.’ As a result, these artists pioneered new forms of the electronic media and environmental installation that artists today commonly use to immerse viewers in a sensory experience.”

Born in an era of social tension and radical change, the art of the period has become emblematic of the technological, social, and sexual revolution in an era of global change. Among the artists represented will be Josef Albers, Edna Andrade, Richard Anuszkiewicz, Max Bill, Carlos Cruz-Diez, Ellsworth Kelly, Francois Morellet, Larry Poons, Bridget Riley, Jesus Rafael Soto, Julian Stanczak, Frank Stella, and Victor Vasarely.

An illustrated catalogue, with essays by Joe Houston and critic Dave Hickey, will be distributed worldwide by Merrell Publishing of London.

Support for OPTIC NERVE provided by the Ohio Humanities Council, a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Ohio Magazine and Smooth Jazz WJZA 103.5/104.3 are Media Sponsors.