Artist, Emanuel Utti's Commission for St. Helena's Church

THE TIMES HERALD
By Jenny DeHuff

"Spiritual of Mercy" by Emanuel Utti
Gene Walsh/Times Herald Staff.

PENNSYLVANIA – For more than half a century, Emanuel Utti has left his mark on churches, galleries and museums throughout the Delaware Valley. And at age 78, he’s nowhere near stopping. The North Philadelphia native is currently in the process of completing two paintings inside the narthex of St. Helena’s Church in Blue Bell. The works, commissioned by the Rev. Monsignor Joseph J. Nicolo a year and a half ago, entail the depictions of the spiritual and corporal works of mercy. The paintings are scheduled to be finished next week some time, when the scaffolding will come down and they will be on display to parishioners. Utti, who now resides in Lafayette Hill, has been doing this his whole life. He explained where he gets his inspiration during a recent tour of the church. [link]