All's Fair in Love and Art

My friend Ira and I went gallery hopping in Tel Aviv yesterday. At one point while we were walking, high on art and inspiration, we passed a bicycle tied to a pole with a book in its basket. Ira immediately started examining the book. It was 'Nothing If Not Critical' by Robert Hughes. Ira said "take it", I hesitated. "That's stealing... but its a really good book to have". We stood there contemplating the pros and cons of stealing an art book for a few minutes. Finding excuses why its a good idea to steal it and finally decided that it was an act or honor to steal an art book of all things. That it would be an act of selfless dedication to our craft to save this book from abandonment on a crowded city street. So we took it. Feeling very uplifted at the act of kindness we were showing the art book. As we were walking off with the book. A woman walking her dog stopped us and said very sweetly that she doesnt mean to disturb or be rude but she was watching us and she thought that it wasnt right to steal because someone left it in the basket of their bike. I looked at this woman as she was walking away and thanked her for bringing me back to my senses. So we put the book back and became even more inspired by the fact that the city has a conscience. Ira and I both agreed that if someone had left a wallet full of cash in the basket we wouldn't have touched it... but an art book!!! It's a honorable act to steal someone's art book.