Artbrary...

Sarah has a new idea and I'm buying stock in it: The Artbrary or Artberry (the name is still in deliberation). It's a simple concept with enormous connotations for the fabric of society. The Artberry is a free public service, much like a library, that lends fine art to individuals for a period of time. No charge. The works, ranging from refrigerator art to priceless masterpieces, must be cared for and returned in the same condition in which they were borrowed.

Now I know what you're thinking, and shame on you. You're thinking that items will continually be stolen or damaged, and of course the system is ripe for abuse. But therein lies the ugly reflection. A society that understands the concepts of sharing and reasonable rules doesn't need to be hounded with legal documents or extortionate deposits. A society that spends too much energy girding itself against potential abuse becomes a paranoid zoo where everything is caged and kept at a distance.

Which brings me to my twist on the Artbrary. The Zooberry. Imagine handing over your zooberry card to the zooberrian and asking for a dozen Emperor Penguins, a Manatee, and a Mongolian Yak for the weekend.