FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Feb. 8, 2023
MEDIA CONTACT: Brian Passey | [email protected] | 480-874-4626
NFLPA’s Professional Athletes Foundation, Scottsdale Arts, COLE/LAB join forces for special ‘Arts & Athletics’ event
SCOTTSDALE, Arizona — Scottsdale Arts is excited to join forces with the NFLPA’s Professional Athletes Foundation, The Abstract Athlete and COLE/LAB on Friday, Feb. 10, for a special arts event at the newly renovated Scottsdale Civic Center.
“Arts & Athletics” will showcase artwork by retired athletes from the NFL, NBA, MLB and other leagues during the free event, from 3 to 5 p.m. Feb. 10. The artworks will be displayed near “The Yearlings,” a sculpture by George-Ann Tognoni that was recently reinstalled in the West Paseo, the entrance to Scottsdale Civic Center from Old Town Scottsdale, near the intersection of Main Street and Brown Avenue.
More than a dozen large-scale works will be on display in the outdoor setting, just steps away from ESPN’s Super Bowl stage. Several NFLPA members and artists will be in attendance, including Week 10 NFLPA Community MVP Kelvin Beachum Jr. of the Arizona Cardinals and Phoenix resident and former Atlanta Falcons NFC Champion Jose C. Portilla (Super Bowl XXXIII).
The event is free of charge and open to the public to view the creativity of these athletes with the excitement of the ESPN broadcast stage next door.
“Arts & Athletics” is part of a series of art showcases — including a stop at De Sarthe Gallery in Scottsdale from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9, courtesy of COLE/LAB — leading up to the Professional Athletes Foundation’s private fundraising brunch Smocks & Jocks. In its 18th year, the annual Super Bowl art auction will be held on Saturday, Feb. 11, at Top of the Rock Restaurant in Tempe.
The public can register for the virtual art auction component of Smocks & Jocks — which includes artwork by Arizona Cardinals legend Larry Fitzgerald Jr. — at Events.Handbid.com/auctions/2023-smocks-and-jocks. For further information about the NFLPA’s Professional Athletes Foundation event, contact [email protected].
All events include artworks by the following artist athletes and many more: Makayla Binter (track and field), KJ Brent (NFL), Joe Barry Carroll (NBA), Vernon Davis (NFL), Michael Goodrich (U.S. Army veteran, Purple Heart recipient), Don Hasselbeck (NFL), Katie Houser (pro volleyball), Jaraz Jenkins, Ron Johnson (baseball player, teacher, and Abstract Athlete co-founder), Percy King (NFL), Tony Mandarich (NFL), Elize McKelvey (U.S. Marine Corps veteran), Joe Olney (U.S. Army veteran), Brian Poli-Dixon (NFL), Matthew Rice (NFL), Jay Richardson (NFL), Gabrielle Rivera-Valedon (pro volleyball), Charlie Rugg (MLS), Larry Sanders (NBA), Andrew Storck (U.S. Air Force veteran), Richard Sullivan (pro baseball), Matt Szczur (MLB), Brett Tomko (MLB), Hillary Werth (heptathlete and U.S. Bobsled Team member), and Nigel Williams (NFL).