or jump to: FAQs

Introducing the Kairos Kabinet:

A groundbreaking exchange of unique, original art. Discover a one-of-a-kind piece and become part of its story as it brings wonder into your life.

Art Adoption:

Adopt a work of art and bring it into your home to care for and enjoy.

In-person you may peruse the artworks in the Kairos Kabinet to find one that resonates with your interests and bring it home where you can fully appreciate it. There is no payment required for art adoption, though we highly encourage art exchanges and we welcome financial donations to help expand the network of Kabinets to new locations.

Place artwork for adoption by someone else to care for and enjoy.

You may entrust original (one-of-a-kind) artwork (yours or from another artist) in the Kabinet for someone else to adopt who will care for and enjoy it next. We focus on the inbound reason for adoption. Being adopted means “someone wants you.”

The Box Itself:

Each Kairos Kabinet is a mini-gallery and will contain a collection of entrusted original artworks on three shelves. One shelf is a filing system for small works on paper. Another shelf organizes small, framed works and flat pieces with dividers. The third shelf provides space for small sculptures. (design concept #2 shown here, is not final)

Kabinets are intended to be housed indoors in public libraries for a few reasons.

The contents are one-of-a-kind artworks. Unlike books which are printed identically in a factory and for which copies are highly available, these handmade art pieces are unique and irreplaceable.
Many media types are sensitive to moisture and temperature, so climate control helps preserve the integrity of these unique creations while waiting for adoption.
Our belief is that all art is worth protecting. We are ensuring a safe temporary home for every unique piece. It would significantly limit the mediums and formats of art available if the contents needed to be immune to all possible weather and temperature conditions.
The choice of a library home reinforces the patrons check-in/check-out process, something the Kabinet requires to handle the adoption process. Entrusted artworks shouldn't walk out without registration and new artworks aren't entrusted without being officially added to the registry.

Why a "Kabinet?"

Once upon a time, before there were the public art galleries and museums we know today, people first started bringing together collections of objects in a room nicknamed a ‘cabinet of curiosities.’ The term cabinet originally referred to a room rather than a piece of furniture, like a private study. The collections in these wonder-rooms typically included works of art, relics, pieces of natural history, and antiquities. They represented the specific interests of the curator but also provided visitors with a sample of worldly experience. They were a form of learned entertainment, as the stories of object history and acquisition were part of the marvel. Later the concept of a Salon developed, and modern galleries emerged somewhere between the late 19th and early 20th century.

Combining the original cabinet of curiosities and a contemporary furniture piece we know, the Kairos Kabinet has been created as a vehicle to introduce more artwork to the public to become new stewards of entrusted works in a very easy way.

Community

After describing the Kairos Kabinet concept to others, we heard occasional anecdotes of how some communities have already established a hyperlocal art exchange of some kind. These distributed prototypes prove that the core idea resonates with people so deeply that they are willing to take action and attempt to create it themselves, even without a formal model or organization.

The fact that these were single attempts and were not designed as reproduceable systems is the exact gap that the Kairos Kabinet will fill. We are not inventing the desire; we’re providing a structured and sustainable way to fulfill it. These community attempts are a tangible manifestation of the “unspoken wish” to connect with art and to create a more vibrant community in doing so.

We are not just launching another art exchange. We are providing a professional, thoughtful and enduring framework (the Kairos Kabinet) that allows these heartfelt, one-off examples to be successful, reproducible, and an impactful tradition. We’re building on a pre-existing and deeply human impulse enabling art for all.

Art Card

During art adoption, in either direction, documentation is meaningful. Art being placed for adoption is easier to appreciate when information about the piece accompanies it. And art that gets adopted deserves to be recorded. The Guild will fill cabinets initially and we will label these pieces. As art adoptions occur, pieces will be entrusted to the Kabinet by others and will benefit greatly from including a standard set of accompanying information. Plus, the adopted piece may inspire its new family to seek out the artist to acquire more.

The standard card accompanying each piece should include (as much as possible):

Artist Name
Medium
Title of piece
Date of creation
Contact info for artist (web site, social media, or email)
Assigned Object ID# (Use the artwork placement tool above to generate your art card and object ID#.)

Adoption Procedures:

When entrusting a work for adoption:

Avoid prohibited items

Must be original, one-of-a-kind artwork (you or another artist)
No prints or reproductions (3D prints and electronic media also excluded)
Nothing alive, no food
Any preserved materials, like flowers or hide, should not have a risk of decomposition
Pieces should not shed, stain, or leave remnants (glitter, flakes, oil, etc.) Example: please fix charcoal and protect pastels so they won’t smudge

Check the dimensions of your piece to know if it will fit in the Kabinet and the available space

Paper up to 13”x19”
Framed or flat work up to 17”x24”
Sculptures: check your Kabinet for available space, as the compartment which is 24” H x 32” W x 18” D may have other current tenant artworks. The lower shelf is adjustable to accommodate larger flat works or larger sculptures, so check with the local steward or visit the Kabinet to see how your local space is configured.

If space is not available in a local Kabinet or there is no Kabinet near you

Contact the local Kabinet steward to hold your artwork until space is available (contact info inside cabinet)
You may mail your artwork to the Kairos Guild for distribution in new Kabinet locations as they are installed (see contact page for address)

Visit https://www.KairosKabinet.org to entrust your art for adoption and receive a unique ID# for use and your printable art card. If you request during registering a piece, we will send you email automatically when your placed artwork has been adopted. It will not reveal the new "parents" but you'll know it was adopted.
Complete an art card with the requested information and affix it to your piece

For paper pieces, place the piece in the portfolio sleeve along with your art card behind it
For framed/flat pieces, affix or tape art card firmly to the back
For sculptures, either attach a card with string or affix or tape firmly to the base

Please tell your friends about sharing art with others
Inside the cabinet, there are measures to protect the contents

Paper pieces fit into separate protective sleeves along with your art card
Corrugated plastic separators are provided for framed/flat pieces, so any hangers and other rough elements do not scratch adjacent pieces
The same corrugated plastic separators can be utilized to buffer sculptural pieces from one another as needed
Local stewards are available to help if you're concerned about protecting contents entrusted from regular handling

When adopting an artwork:

Consider an exchange of art, allowing others to enjoy a piece that you’ve had for a while but are replacing with something new from the Kabinet.
Find a single piece that inspires you
Please be gentle when browsing so you do not damage items accidentally
Look for the art card accompanying or attached to the piece. It is possible some donated pieces may not have included an art card even though it is requested.
Bring your new discovery home and finalize the adoption

Visit https://www.KairosKabinet.org and click ADOPT within the app on the page to register your adopted piece using the Object ID# found on the accompanying art card
Take a photo of the adopted art in its new home
Post the photo on social media and tag @ArtsKairos and use #KairosKabinet
Optionally, share the story about what drew you to choose this piece
Print your official adoption certificate

Save the art card so it can accompany the piece if you ever choose to exchange it in the future with another from the Kairos Cabinet
Tell your friends about your art adoption and tag @ArtsKairos and #KairosKabinet when you post a picture of your newly adopted artwork online
If you are not exchanging artwork 1:1, please consider a donation supporting the construction of new Kabinets, or recommending to artists you know this avenue of art adoption, bringing some of their smaller, previously underappreciated works to light that have been seen before
Consider lending library mode where you activate an artwork for a while in your home, and return it for a different piece when you're ready for something new (keeping the art card handy makes re-adoption quicker)

For Artists

The first two Kabinets are under construction, but we are currently accepting artwork for them, about 130 pieces so far. Please ship artworks in advance to the Kairos Guild.

The Kairos Kabinet is a low-barrier way to entrust your work, increase art stewardship, and contribute to a unique public art initiative, without the pressure of sales environments. The Kairos Guild is not begging for free artworks. We hope that you feel as we do that more engagement is not only valuable but necessary. Art is not an amenity, but an essential element of the infrastructure of our lives. And what we’re asking is that you participate in a small way with a single piece placed for adoption, with the intent it will be adopted by someone who profoundly connects with it. The Guild is working to demonstrate and document that Art is another source of awe that leads to prosocial (positive) action. We all need more of that in the world. Whether you create a small, personal piece specifically to entrust for adoption, you have an older piece that’s been tucked away that you hope will bring someone else a bit of inspiration, or you have a recycled piece to pass along so it can have another life, we welcome original, one-of-a-kind works from all sources.

The organized Kabinet helps people seeking inspiration browse for something that resonates. It offers diverse content in a compact footprint. Art is not static; it lives, moves, and circulates through the community. More people get to “live with art.” The act of taking a piece, living with it, and bringing it (or another) back to “release” it and find another is an action in itself, deepening the connection to art and the community. It is a subtle lesson in impermanence and shared resources. Community ownership encourages active participation and shared stewardship of the collection. The Kabinet becomes a truly communal resource for art activation.

These small pieces don’t inherently need to be “profound” in the same way as the ArtsKairos Festival’s juried pieces. The “awe” here comes from the accessibility, the unexpected discovery, and the personal resonance of living with original art. The core principle is that people adopting a piece will inherently select one that resonates with them. This continuous resource executes the mission year-round, not just during the ArtsKairos Festival, making art a more tangible, active part of everyday life for countless people.

As a sculptor myself, this organization is my “rage against the dying of the light” where the desire is to create a world where fundamental human pursuits can exist without the shadow of existential threats. My belief is that art is not frivolous but a potent force for societal betterment and a counter to oppressive forces. Kairos aims to showcase a more inclusive vision of society by giving a platform to suppressed, meaningful art. Art creates an enduring “morphic field” of inspiration and values that transcends time and individual events. The Kairos Guild is continuing a noble tradition of prioritizing art’s transformative power. And we invite you to contribute to forming this new shared history by entrusting artwork for adoption.

FAQ

Q: How do I find a Kairos Kabinet near me?

A: The first Kabinet is being placed at the Avon, MA Public Library. The second charter is scheduled for the Washington, DC area. Additional locations are being negotiated in Miami and Davis, CA. Once there are more than a handful of Kabinets, we will add a "find a Kabinet" map.

Q: There is no Kabinet near me, how can I get one?

A: If you are willing to become a steward and assist in placing a new Kabinet, please contact us! We’ve just launched our first Kairos Kabinet placement, and we’d love to place thousands, but it will take us a little time in the beginning to increase the speed of production. Our fabrication partner estimates we can produce a new cabinet every two days after the first one is complete. We will share the steps we took to place the first Kabinet with motivated future stewards. There is a substantial cost to constructing such a piece of civic infrastructure. Start by discussing with a library local to you about placement.

Q: Is the artwork free?

A: Yes, except we’re asking you to be a conscientious guardian for your adopted artwork, to document your adoption, and to tell others about the Kairos Kabinet. Please limit your adoption to one piece, unless you are placing an equal number of pieces for adoption, so others have a chance to do the same. We appreciate the quotation "A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry, and see a fine picture every day of his life, so worldly cares may not obliterate the beautiful in the human soul." --Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Q: Is it leave one, take one?

A: You may adopt artwork without replacing it. What’s most important is that you find something inspiring in the piece you select. If at some point you no longer feel connected to a piece, please return it to the cabinet so it can be re-adopted. You can select something else. You may also share your Kabinet experience with artists you may know, encouraging them to entrust a single piece for adoption, contributing further to art enjoyment for all. A financial donation is not required for adoption, but we do welcome such donations. Donated funds support the construction, installation, and maintenance of additional Kabinets.

Q: How do you resupply the Kabinets?

A: We have an open call with art schools for contributing drawings and other small pieces that will always be fresh and uncommon, since these artists are relatively new. Established artists and hobbyists also contribute pieces as they hear about the mission. These pieces are collected and tracked by the Kairos Guild and are used to initially supply newly placed Kabinets as well as be available to stewards who may be experiencing an adoption rate higher than the intake rate.

Q: What does the art card/registration do?

A: We hope that adopted pieces increase the interest in the artist who created the artwork and the adopting family may wish to reach out to the artist to learn more or to acquire additional pieces. The art card helps by documenting the origin of the piece. The unique Object ID number is able to track repeated traffic of any artwork through the Kairos network. If an artist registers when entrusting their artwork, they will be notified when their work has been adopted, though it will not disclose private information about the adopter. Patrons should recognize the check-in/check-out procedure that libraries use, and apply this mechanic to the Kabinet adoption system.

Q: How do you keep “inappropriate” material out of the Kabinet?

A: Stewards have the primary responsibility for monitoring the Kabinet contents. You may always contact the local steward if you notice something that needs attention. Their contact information will be inside the Kabinet. Their email address will be "st*******@***********et.org" where the number in the email address matches the charter number of the Kabinet. Kabinets are also placed in occupied spaces. It’s less likely that someone will place items that don’t belong in the Kabinet when it’s located in a place like a public library than if it was installed outdoors on a street where it has no supervision at all.

Q: Do I need to tell anyone that I’m taking/leaving a piece?

A: No, the building staff where the Kabinet is placed do not need to know this. But, please follow the online adoption steps outlined here to take home or entrust a piece, which are also found inside the Kabinet.

Q: Can I adopt more that one piece?

A: If you are not exchanging art with another piece left for adoption, we ask that you adopt only one piece at a time, so other people have a chance to benefit from the Kabinet contents, and it’s not emptied quickly. You can come back the next week and adopt another after others have had a chance to visit the Kabinet.

Q: Can I place a Kairos Kabinet on my private property?

A: No, the program is designed to place Kabinets in climate-controlled, publicly accessible library buildings which provide necessary protection from weather and temperature for one-of-a-kind, often somewhat fragile artworks. We appreciate the enthusiasm, but outdoor placement is not an option. If you’d like to see a Kabinet nearby, please contact us about becoming a steward, and we can suggest ways to achieve placement in a publicly accessible library.

Q: Do you buy artwork from artists to place in the Kabinets?

A: No, we are supported by generously donated artworks and artwork exchanges.

Q: Who makes the Kabinets?

A: Kairos has partnered with Grain Designs in North Dakota for Kabinet design and production. Grain Designs makes custom commercial furniture and is keenly aware of the high-performance requirements for furniture that is going to have >200,000 humans interacting with it over its lifetime. They are capable of producing a new Kabinet in about two days once they have the materials in-hand.

Q: Can I find out who adopted a piece I placed in a Kabinet?

A: Not quite. If you register when you place an artwork, we will automatically notify you when the piece is adopted, just not by whom. If the full adoption procedure has been followed completely by the new family, you might find a photo of your piece in its new home posted on social media near the time of email notification if you search for #KairosKabinet on social media.

Chartering Kabinets

Each new placement of a Kairos Kabinet must be registered and will receive a placard with a unique Charter ID. A step-by-step guide including compelling talking points for securing a host location will be provided for aspiring stewards. At present, there is just one standard, pre-constructed Kabinet model. Purchase of a Kabinet may either be self-funded by the steward or through broader support, such as a cultural council grant or community fundraising effort. Guidelines for self-constructed versions are being developed for the future. Each of the Kabinet contents, one-of-a-kind artworks, is an entrusted gift to be cherished and stewarded (or potentially returned for another exchange). This uniqueness also carries a special status that is different from an exchange of a mass-produced book of which there are many copies available in many places. Art adopters become part of a piece’s unique story and provenance.

Each Kabinet requires a local steward who is responsible for maintenance, promoting art exchange, and monitoring adherence to guidelines. A concise “how-to” guide covering everything from initial setup, stocking, ongoing exchange management, minor maintenance, how to talk to media and the community, and other elements will be available for stewards soon. Stewards for Kairos Kabinets become guardians of unique, irreplaceable community treasures.