U.S. Women's Soccer Star Megan Rapinoe to Speak at SMoCA

The Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA) presents a moderated conversation with FIFA Women's World Cup Champion and Olympic gold medalist Megan Rapinoe on Friday, Oct. 27, at 7 p.m., in the Virginia G. Piper Theater at the Scottsdale Center for Performing Arts.

One of the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team's best goal scorers and craftiest players, Rapinoe saw the early part of her career stalled by knee injuries. But over the past decade she has developed into a true scoring threat for the U.S. team. She set up arguably the most celebrated goal in U.S Soccer history when she assisted on Abby Wambach's epic extra-time goal in the 2011 World Cup against Brazil.

"Pinoe," as she is known, has become a fan favorite with a cult following since the World Cup, and has a large social media fan base. Fans love her guitar playing and off-field goofiness, and Nike even paid homage to her blond pixie cut by giving the hairstyle its own T-shirt. Rapinoe helped lead the U.S. team to a gold medal in the 2012 Olympic Games, with three goals and four assists. She also added two goals and two assists in the 2015 FIFA (International Federation of Association Football) Women's World Cup, helping take her team to its third World Cup gold medal.

Rapinoe is an advocate for equality for all, and has been able to mesh her passion for humanity and authenticity by creating Rapinoe SC, LLC, whose mission is "Be Your Best You."

The evening with Rapinoe is part of the museum's ongoing Out@SMoCA series, which celebrates Arizona's vibrant LGBTQ community and its support of contemporary art in Scottsdale.

Five signed soccer balls will be raffled at the event to benefit one·n·ten, a Phoenix-based nonprofit charitable organization that serves and helps lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning LGBTQ youth improve their self-esteem and self-acceptance. The organization's youth center was destroyed by fire this past July.

Presented in partnership with the City of Scottsdale Office of Diversity, Scottsdale Human Relations Commission and media partner Echo Magazine.

Tickets are $35 (M $30) at www.SMoCA.org. The Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art is located at 7374 E. Second St., Scottsdale, AZ 85251.

Through its partnership with the City of Scottsdale, the nonprofit Scottsdale Arts (formerly known as Scottsdale Cultural Council) creates diverse, inspired arts experiences and educational opportunities that foster active, lifelong community engagement with the arts. Since its founding in 1987, Scottsdale Arts has grown into a regionally and nationally significant, multi-disciplinary arts organization offering an exceptional variety of programs through three acclaimed divisions - Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA) and Scottsdale Public Art - serving more than 400,000 participants annually.

Founded in 1999, Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA) explores the best of contemporary art, architecture and design. Global in its focus, the Museum is a unique and vital cultural resource for the Southwest, serving local audiences as well as visitors from the United States and abroad. Designed by award-winning architect Will Bruder, SMoCA's minimalist building (an ingenious renovation of a former movie theater) has four galleries for showcasing changing exhibitions and works from the Museum's collection, along with SMoCA Lounge, a living, functional art installation and space for community engagement. The Museum presents a wide variety of educational programs and special events for adults and families, including lectures, readings, performances, docent-led tours, workshops and classes. SMoCA also features an outdoor sculpture garden housing James Turrell's Knight Rise, one of the renowned artist's public skyspaces, and Scrim Wall, a monumental curtain of translucent glass panels by James Carpenter Design Associates. The Museum's retail store, Shop@SMoCA, offers classic design objects and furnishings, contemporary jewelry, art and architecture books, and imaginative gifts for all occasions.

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