With summer officially here, eBay for Charity is offering contemporary art collectors a chance to own the only signed pool float from highly influential artist Cindy Sherman’s open edition design. In collaboration with Third Drawer Down, fans can join in on the bidding at ebay.com/CindySherman from July 19 – 29, with 100 percent of proceeds benefiting + POOL. The sale launches on eBay at 9am Pacific time on July 19.
This one-of-a-kind Cindy Sherman sale coincides with the launch of Third Drawer Down’s new eBay store. With Third Drawer Down on eBay, shoppers can purchase unsigned metallic silver pool floats for $250, no bidding required. The 5.5-foot, metallic silver, phone-shaped pool float can be used in the water or as a sculptural object. It is packaged in a functional swim bag printed with the artist’s motto: “I’d rather be swimming.”
Sherman is known for exposing how culture shapes appearances, shattering conformities through her portrait-based photography. The float’s featured selfie image was accidentally created when two pics merged in the artist’s phone. “I took this photo to send to someone who knitted the hat for me (Helene Winer of Metro Pictures gallery, actually). But, I also wanted to play around with some apps that I’d just started using and accidentally pressed a button that added some old setting onto this image. I thought it was a nice accident so I kept it,” said Sherman, on the creation of the “Oops” image.
A devoted swimmer, Sherman has created the float in collaboration with and in support of + POOL, a nonprofit initiative to build a water-filtering floating swimming pool in New York City’s East River. The nonprofit aims to reclaim the river as a chemical-free, recreational resource for the city, while educating the public about issues affecting water quality.
The opening bid for the signed float begins at .99 cents and comes with an exclusive eBay bundle including:
- An engraved, personalized + POOL tile that will be installed at the pool when it is built, as well as a commemorative tile as a keepsake.
- A Cindy Sherman-inspired canvas tote designed by Virgil Abloh, bearing a quote from Sherman, “I’d rather be swimming,” and a black and white photo of the artist swimming.
- The opportunity to have the first dip in the pool when it opens.
“+ POOL is an artist-led project, which lends itself to fun collaborations like this one. We absolutely adore Cindy and love the concept of literally blowing up her iPhone and Instagram,” said Archie Lee Coates, IV, an artist and co-founder of + POOL. “We can’t wait to see the float on Instagram. So meta.”
“Last year, our David Shrigley Ridiculous Inflatable Swan-Thing Pool Float went viral. This summer, we are honored to be invited to partner with our friends at + POOL and have the opportunity to collaborate directly with Cindy Sherman to create this new addition to Third Drawer Down’s Artist Pool Float Collection. So, dreams do come true. Cindy Sherman is a pleasure to work with and we are thrilled to be launching this project in our fifteenth anniversary year and the US company opening,” said Abigail Crompton, Founder and CEO of Third Drawer Down.
“The only signed Cindy Sherman pool float will be a sought-after collectible on eBay for Charity, offering our 171 million active buyers a chance to own a signed work by a recognized artist and benefit + POOL,” said Sam Bright, Senior Director of Art & Collectibles at eBay.
Join the conversation on social media by using the hashtag #idratherbeswimming.