During conversations with four Benedictine monks of St. John’s Abbey, each monk discusses an object he treasures, which becomes a catalyst for storytelling about his life, beliefs, and personal philosophy.

Although this project started as a way to learn about objects, it quickly became clear that some special objects allow the owner to express himself, talk about his life, and share his opinions. The project began with one simple question: What object do you treasure most? This question opened the door to diverse conversations with each monk, which created a new focus for the project: personal stories and beliefs. It was apparent that objects are not just meaningful, but allow people to express thoughts and feelings that would otherwise go unspoken.