NJ photographer and painter Jennifer Bladel has recently completed a full size mural of St. Francis at Holy Name of Jesus Church which will be unveiled later this week.
August 23, 2018: Holy Name of Jesus Church has recently announced to unveil the much awaited St. Francis mural that started in May 2017. It’s a unique full size mural painted on the walls of St. Francis Chapel of the Church and depicts life size figures of the aspirations of the great St. Francis of Assisi.
The mural will be unveiled on August 25, 2018 at Holy Name of Jesus Church located at 200 Midland Ave in Orange, NJ.
The artist behind the mural is highly talented photographer and painter Jennifer Bladel. She runs her own photography studio Village Studio in Montclair, NJ. Last year in May, she was commissioned by Fr. Fredrick Pfeifer, the pastor of Holy Name of Jesus Church, to paint a full size mural in the St. Francis Chapel of the Church. She started the project immediately and finished it recently in August 2018.
“It was a great honor for me to be commissioned by Fr. Fredrick Pfeifer to paint a mural in St. Francis Chapel. Like many devout Catholics, I am an ardent follower of the great St. Francis of Assisi and to be able to pay my homage to him through my art is something really huge for me. I am immensely thankful to Holy Name of Jesus Church for giving me this amazing opportunity. I have tried my best to put life to the mural. It will always be one of my most special projects and I am hopeful my work will be able to strike a chord with the viewers”, stated Jennifer Bladel.
With a dimension of 30 sq ft x 9 sq ft, the new mural in St. Francis Chapel portrays 5 almost life size figures of the aspirations of the much revered 15th century mystic and founder of the Franciscan order. The mural also features the crucified Christ in the center with the hills and mountains of Assisi in the background.
“The mural is almost like an animation where each figure offers a glimpse into the austere life of one of the greatest saints ever who has been revered for centuries even beyond the Catholic Church.”
According to a leading spokesperson from the church, it’s going to be an evening of art and spirituality which will appeal to both art connoisseurs and devout spiritualists.