  Optical and infrared observations have thus far detected more celestial
cataclysms than have been seen in gravity waves (GW). This argues that we
should search for gravity wave signatures that correspond to flux variability
seen at optical wavelengths, at precisely known positions. There is an unknown
time delay between the optical and gravitational transient, but knowing the
source location precisely specifies the corresponding time delays across the
gravitational antenna network as a function of the GW-to-optical arrival time
difference. Optical searches should detect virtually all supernovae that are
plausible gravitational radiation sources. The transient optical signature
expected from merging compact objects is not as well understood, but there are
good reasons to expect detectable transient optical/IR emission from most of
these sources as well. The next generation of deep wide-field surveys (for
example PanSTARRS and LSST) will be sensitive to subtle optical variability,
but we need to fill the ``blind spots'' that exist in the Galactic plane, and
for optically bright transient sources. In particular, a Galactic plane
variability survey at 2 microns seems worthwhile. Science would benefit from
closer coordination between the various optical survey projects and the gravity
wave community.
