The next time you’re outside the Volunteer Lounge door, take a look at the space between shopAGOkids and the AR&S (AGO Art Rental & Sales) sales desk. You’ll see a work of art on display on the wall, under the bold proclamation: “Start a new family tradition: give your child the gift of art.”

AGO Art Rental & Sales believes that it’s never too early to start an art collection.

How about age seven? Early enough?

AR&S coordinator Elizabeth Petrova laughs, shaking her head in delighted amusement. She has a great story to tell. “This little boy was in the shop, looking at toys and things with his mother. He wandered over here, and saw the print we happened to have on display at the time.”

It was this print: edition 2 of 3, of a 2011 work by Andrew Myers called Sweet Nothings.

“The child fell in love,” Elizabeth continues. “He brought his mother to look at it, said he loved it, he wanted it, even offered some of his allowance to help pay the rental.”

The details of the child-mother negotiation aren’t known, nor do they matter. What matters is: Sweet Nothings went home with a very happy 7-year-old.

“He even said he knew exactly where he wanted it to hang!” says Elizabeth. “Yes, they took it on rental, but…” She smiles. “I think it might become a sale.”