Sharing its space with a River North design firm, the "Art Beyond Our Vision" gallery, founded in 2002, displays vibrantly colored, carefully manipulated artwork culled from satellite images captured around 500 miles above Earth. At first, this looks like the work of Internet geeks with an eye for aesthetics. But principal artists Larry Ammann's and Stuart Black's work is far more complex than anything you'd find on Google Maps.

Promoted as a beautiful marriage of science and art, these images are based upon satellite remote sensing, with subtle shades of color reflecting topographical data. Minor changes in climate or vegetation and technological advances can significantly alter the colors and shapes. Ammann, Black and guest artists each process colors differently, then print the finished work on fine art or museum-quality metallic paper, have them professionally framed and offer them in standard and custom sizes for $400 and up.

If ABOV's art and science seem terribly complex, know that the work is a remarkably fresh and accessible way to see Chicago, the Great Lakes and international destinations like India and the Middle East. Each piece is bound to inspire fascinating cocktail party conversation.

Centerstage Reviewer: Justin Sondak