Toni Greaves' Radical Love
Radical Love is the story of 22-year-old Sister Lauren Franko's early journey as a cloistered nun, living within a small monastic community in New Jersey, USA.
The first thing that struck me when I entered the cloistered 'Monastery of Our Lady of the Rosary' was the light and glow of young women in love, accompanied by an overall sense of happiness and wellbeing. One of the older Nuns describes herself as falling "blindingly and irretrievably in love" (with God) at the age of 7 1/2. She entered the monastery at 19, and has now been there for 52 years, rarely leaving its doors. The youngest nun, 22-year-old Sister Lauren Franko, describes receiving her calling to monastic life after a marriage proposal from God, delivered via the website 'YouTube'. Pale-skinned, rosy-cheeked, formally donning a cascade of long red hair, Sister Lauren is young, beautiful, and vibrant. Although 22, her child-like energy belies her age and exposes a curious juxtaposition of a girl finding herself as a woman, while at the same time finding herself as a nun.
Radical Love is the story of Sister Lauren's journey within a small monastic community in New Jersey, USA. Documenting her passage through the first year of religious life, the story is, to-date, a window into her early love of God, her betrothal to Him via an engagement ceremony, and her daily interactions living within this small community of nuns who are themselves in various stages of their own spiritual paths... the same path that lay ahead for her. The Dominican Nuns of Summit, New Jersey are a cloistered Roman Catholic monastic community. Their primary mission is to pray for the salvation of souls by leading a hidden life of prayer. The monastery of 21 Nuns range in age from 22 to 92 years. Some of the nuns have been in the monastery for as long as 62 years. At the time of starting this project Sister Lauren had been there for just one month.
Toni Greaves is a Portland, OR based artist and is a Juror's Choice in Center's 2010 Project Competition.
