Wedge Philosophy by Ken Montague Rarely do our wishes come true. More often, our dreams become a slightly alterted version of the reality we hoped for. I am interested in what is gained in this process. The unexpected truth is what draws me to photographic art. I am not a photographer, nor am I a critic. I do not have formal training or expertise in photography. But my passion has always been strong, and my opinions have never been lacking. If an image speaks to me, it can present a new way of seeing the world. When I was a child, polaroid technology went mainstream, and I cannot forget my first encounter with that process. My older brother got a new polaroid camera for his birthday, and I was absolutely fascinated by the "instant processing". Not because the image arrived so quickly, but because I could never tire of the mysterious ritual of waiting for the initial scratches and faint markings to morph into the beautifully detailed final product. This waiting was difficult for a hyper-active kid, and I would sometimes play a game in which I would take a picture, then close my eyes and imagine what the end result would be. Usually, when I saw the resultant image, it wouldn't even be close to my perception of what I had captured. I forgot about this phenomenon until much later, at university, when I was introduced to the process of photo-developing in a friend's laboratory. I remembered-with the same child-like intensity-the element of surprise and the excitement of the unexpected. I recognized my unique relationship with photography, and decided that I wanted to share these emotions. This year I have had the priviledge of moving into a space designed for both living, and for showing art. The Wedge Gallery finds its energy and gains its purpose from its very location: a public room within a private home. I feel this space can create an intimacy for the viewer that is rare in a dedicated public building. I look forward to promoting art that conveys a sense of mystery, and reflects the complexity and absurdity of the world we live in. Wedge Gallery will hopefully take you to that unexpected place.

	ken montague (left) with 2003 wedge artist jamel shabazz