DOYLESTOWN, PA.- The James A. Michener Art Museum announces the opening of Wendy Paton | Nuit Blanche, a photographic series by award-winning, internationally renowned and local fine art photographer Wendy Paton on August 23. The Bette & Nelson Pfundt and Commonwealth Galleries will house the exhibition, which will showcase two bodies of work in an installation of seventy selenium toned gelatin silver prints: a premiere selection of Paton's Visages de Nuit collection, complemented by her latest series portfolio, Reclaiming Dignity. Both collections demonstrate Paton's desire to visually document a contemporary version of portraits, a creative portrayal of what the artist observes through her camera's lens.

Wendy Paton | Nuit Blanche demonstrates the artist's contemporary vision using retro techniques (non-digital, hand-developed, selenium toned silver gelatin printing) as well as her distinctive approach to portraiture, ability to humanize objects, and the dramatic use of available light. "I am greatly pleased to be exhibiting my work at the Michener Art Museum and thrilled that the exhibition is being curated by Lisa Tremper Hanover, the Museum's Director and CEO," says Paton. She adds, "Her artistic vision to combine these two bodies of work, Visages de Nuit and Reclaiming Dignity, is significant, as this is the first time these images are being shown together in one exhibition. Having exhibited in major cities and locales in the U.S. and Europe, it is gratifying for me to be able to show this work so close to home."

Paton, a resident of Lambertville, NJ, has exhibited her work across the globe – including major exhibitions in Russia and Germany. Hanover is excited to bring Paton's work to Bucks County and emphasizes that, "The unique scale, subject matter, style and execution of Paton's work coupled with prints from two of her portfolios contribute to the strength and uniqueness of this exhibition." She adds, "We look forward to sharing an intimate look at Wendy's work with art and photography enthusiasts from Bucks County and beyond."

Complementing Paton's exhibition will be two programs – Artist's Lecture and Book Signing, Tuesday, September 16 and Weekend Studio Workshop: Making Photograms/Darkroom & Cyanotype Technique, Saturday, October 18 and Sunday, October 19.

Wendy Paton is an award-winning fine art photographer whose emphasis is shooting with manual film cameras and producing her work as black and white gelatin silver prints, completed in her studio darkroom in Lambertville, NJ. Having studied photography at the International Center of Photography in New York City, Paton learned the intricacies of night photography from Michael Kenna and darkroom printing techniques from her mentor and collaborator, master printer Chuck Kelton.

VISAGES DE NUIT is a collection of 51 black and white candid night portraits, shot between 2006-2012. Their dark, gritty characteristics purposely convey Paton's interpretation of the surreal quality of life at night and what is hiding behind what we normally view as reality.

RECLAIMING DIGNITY is a portfolio of Paton's vision of "abstract portraits," faces and bodies of neglected classic vehicles, once coveted for their style, beauty, speed and grace. Left unattended and ignored for decades, then a chance to once again be admired and coveted, and an opportunity to "reclaim their dignity."

Paton's images are portraits and stories captured with the craft of perception and the energy of visual instinct. Her eye is that of celebrant as well as voyeur, and in graphic compositions of black and white, she offers personal and intimate glimpses of our human, ineffable presence.

Paton's work has been exhibited in gallery and museum venues internationally. Her photography is in the collections of the International Center for Photography, NYC; The Lumière Brothers Center for Photography, Moscow; Musée de la Photographie, Belgium; James A. Michener Art Museum, PA; and the personal collection of Prince Albert II of Monaco.