Author: Mark Jette

DATE: Thursday, September 28, 2017
FROM: 7:00pm-9:00pm
WHERE: Torpedo Factory Art Center (directions below)

The Washington DC Chapter of ACM SIGGRAPH is partnering with the Torpedo Factory Art Center to host the SIGGRAPH Computer Animation Festival Showcase in Alexandria, Virginia. The Computer Animation Festival showcases some of the most dazzling and innovative collection of submitted works selected by a distinguished jury of computer graphics experts and specialists.  SIGGRAPH’s Computer Animation Festival celebrates its 44th year as the world’s leading festival of the most innovative and accomplished computer graphics.

The SIGGRAPH Computer Animation Festival is recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as a qualifying festival for the Academy Awards. Since 1999, several works originally presented in the Computer Animation Festival have been nominated for or have received a “Best Animated Short” Academy Award. In the words of CAF Director Jerome Solomon, “There’s no other stage in the world comparable to SIGGRAPH’s Computer Animation Festival.”

Please join us on Thursday, September 28, 2017 from 7pm to 9pm at the Torpedo Factory Art Center as we watch some of the best examples of computer animation from around the globe.

Location:
Torpedo Factory Art Center
105 N. Union St.
Alexandria, VA 22314
703-838-4565
www.torpedofactory.org

Directions:
The Torpedo Factory Art Center is located at the intersection of King Street and N. Union Street in Old Town Alexandria

http://torpedofactory.org/visit/directions/

Paid parking is available across the street from the Torpedo Factory or you can take the free trolley from the King Street metro center. Paid street parking is available in most areas of Old Town Alexandria. There is limited free parking in nearby residential areas, but it is restricted to two hours. There are several garages within walking distance of the Torpedo Factory Art Center, too. For real-time maps to locate parking in garages, visit the ParkMe website or download their free iPhone app. Parking regulations are strictly enforced by the City of Alexandria. Parking is free after 9 pm, on Sundays, and on state holidays. Persons with proper handicapped identification on their cars may park free at any meter and are exempt from residential parking sticker requirements.

Trolley Information: www.dashbus.com/Trolley

Contact Washington DC ACM SIGGRAPH:
http://washington-dc.siggraph.org/
http://www.meetup.com/DC-ACM-SIGGRAPH/
https://www.facebook.com/DCsiggraph
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/dc-siggraph

DATE:   Thursday, August 31, 2017
FROM:  7:00-9:00pm
WHERE:  US Patent and Trademark Office (directions below)

The Washington DC Chapter of ACM SIGGRAPH would like to invite you to a SIGGRAPH conference recap. For those of you who did not get to go to the SIGGRAPH conference in Anaheim, our very own Kim Wallace and Roberto Ortiz will be sharing their experiences and insights from the conference!  If you attended the conference, share your experiences with those who could not attend this year. Bring your laptop and flash drives and exchange photos! Show off your coveted Pixar teapot or other fun giveaways! Tell us about the cool parties we missed!

SIGGRAPH Conference 2017
http://s2017.siggraph.org/

Please join us on Thursday, August 31, 2017 from 7pm to 9pm at the US Patent and Trademark Office to learn more about the latest news from the SIGGRAPH conference.

LOCATION:
The meeting will be held at the
Remsen Building (400 Dulany Street) at the 1st floor conference room. We are located 2 blocks from the
KING STREET METRO station (BLUE/YELLOW Lines)

http://www.wmata.com/rail/station_detail.cfm?station_id=48

http://goo.gl/maps/UW6p0 -(Walking Directions)

PARKING:

Street Parking
$1.75 per hour, 2 hour max
Free after 9pm

Hoffman Town Center Garage
206 Swamp Fox Rd
Alexandria, VA 22314

Additional paid parking garages are also available in the area.

Contact Washington DC ACM SIGGRAPH:
http://washington-dc.siggraph.org/
http://www.meetup.com/DC-ACM-SIGGRAPH/
https://www.facebook.com/DCsiggraph
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/dc-siggraph

DATE: Thursday, May 18, 2017
FROM: 7:00pm-9:00pm
WHERE: Torpedo Factory Art Center (directions below)

The Washington DC Chapter of ACM SIGGRAPH is proud to present Joey Ponthieux, EMMY® award winning professional 3D animator and concept visualization artist at NASA. Mr. Ponthieux will delve into where, and how, art and science intersect as well as what it means to be an artist or a scientist. He will explore the fine line that separates art and science, how we perceive this separation, issues of convergence between art and science, and convergence as a matter of creativity.

Please join us on Thursday, May 18, 2017 from 7pm to 9pm at the Torpedo Factory Art Center as we explore the worlds of art and science with Joey Ponthieux.

* EMMY® is a formal trademark of The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (“NATAS”)

Joey Ponthieux BIO

Joey Ponthieux is a professional 3D animator and concept visualization artist. With a career that began in analog graphics production for offset lithography, he is an EMMY® award winning artist with 30 years of CGI production experience in the areas of Higher Education, Broadcast News, and Aerospace Research. He is currently employed by Science Systems and Applications Inc., and assigned to provide advanced computer graphics support for the Aeronautics Research Directorate at NASA Langley Research Center.

LOCATION:
Torpedo Factory Art Center
105 N. Union St.
Alexandria, VA 22314
703-838-4565
http://www.torpedofactory.org

Directions:
The Torpedo Factory Art Center is located at the intersection of King Street and N. Union Street in Old Town Alexandria
http://torpedofactory.org/visit/directions/

Paid parking is available across the street from the Torpedo Factory or you can take the free trolley from the King Street metro center. Paid street parking is available in most areas of Old Town Alexandria. There is limited free parking in nearby residential areas, but it is restricted to two hours. There are several garages within walking distance of the Torpedo Factory Art Center, too. For real-time maps to locate parking in garages, visit the ParkMe website or download their free iPhone app. Parking regulations are strictly enforced by the City of Alexandria. Parking is free after 9 pm, on Sundays, and on state holidays. Persons with proper handicapped identification on their cars may park free at any meter and are exempt from residential parking sticker requirements.

Trolley Information:
www.dashbus.com/Trolley

Contact ACM SIGGRAPH Washington DC:
http://washington-dc.siggraph.org/
http://www.meetup.com/DC-ACM-SIGGRAPH/
https://www.facebook.com/DCsiggraph
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/dc-siggraph

DATE: Thursday, April 20, 2017
FROM: 7:00-9:00pm
WHERE: US Patent and Trademark Office (directions below)

Please join the Washington DC ACM SIGGRAPH chapter for our annual demo reel and portfolio review night. Whether you are a graduating student looking to enter the job market, or are a seasoned professional contemplating a change, a dynamic demo reel and portfolio are a must. We will be reviewing demo reels and portfolios after which we will creatively discuss the works. Feedback will be provided on how best to showcase the skills, talents, and experience of each individual. If you don’t have a reel yet, feel free to join us and enjoy networking with other like-minded individuals.

Putting together a demo reel or portfolio can be challenging. How long should it be? What are interviewers looking for? If you are looking for ways to improve your present position, or shopping around for a new one, the time to polish up your demo reel is now. If you’re looking to hire, this will be a great opportunity to see a range of fresh new talent.

We would like to request an RSVP to our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/DCsiggraph) then indicate if you will be bringing a demo reel to share. You can also put your demo on a website and we will test the link before the event to make sure everything works.

Please join us on Thursday, April 20, 2017 from 7pm to 9pm at the US Patent and Trademark Office as the Washington DC ACM SIGGRAPH chapter discusses demo reels, portfolio questions, and more at our Annual Demo Reel & Portfolio Night.

See you there!

LOCATION:
The meeting will be held at the
Remsen Building (400 Dulany Street) in the 1st floor conference room. We are located 2 blocks from the
KING STREET METRO station (BLUE/YELLOW Lines)

http://www.wmata.com/rail/station_detail.cfm?station_id=48

http://goo.gl/maps/UW6p0 -(Walking Directions)

PARKING:

Street Parking
$1.75 per hour, 2 hour max
Free after 9pm

Hoffman Town Center Garage
206 Swamp Fox Rd
Alexandria, VA 22314

Additional paid parking garages are also available in the area.

Contact ACM SIGGRAPH Washington DC:
http://washington-dc.siggraph.org/
http://www.meetup.com/DC-ACM-SIGGRAPH/
https://www.facebook.com/DCsiggraph
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/dc-siggraph

The Washington DC Chapter of ACM SIGGRAPH and the Torpedo Factory Art Center are proud to present Paras Kaul, a distinguished speaker who has been a guest presenter at several ACM SIGGRAPH conferences.  Paras is a noted brainwave artist/researcher who composes brainwave music and animation.

Brain to Computer Interfacing (BCI) for Well-Being
Paras Kaul
paraskaul.onair.cc   brainwavewellness.onair.cc 

Paras Kaul will discuss how she uses neurofeedback to produce music in the Healing Arts Ensemble and her work as a Research Associate for the Music and Well-Being Program at George Mason University. She will discuss how to train your brain using neurofeedback to determine the brain wave state you are in, how EEG is used in (BCI) systems, and the relationship between EEG analysis and brain wave states. She will demonstrate a new, cost efficient neurofeedback device that uses Arduino technology, which will soon be available to the public. As a follow-up to last year’s presentation on Raspberry Pi technology used for teaching Boolean girls how to program animation, she will present new technology in development for kids to learn about robotics.

Please join us on Thursday, March 23, 2017 from 7pm to 9pm at the Torpedo Factory Art Center to experience the work of a pioneer in brain wellness and new media.

PARAS KAUL BIO
http://paraskaul.onair.cc http://brainwavewellness.onair.cc

Paras Kaul is a brainwave artist/researcher who composes brainwave music and animation. She received an MFA degree in digital animation and video from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago with undergraduate studies in English, art, and photography at California State University, Sacramento and James Madison University in VA. After completing her education, Paras held computer animation internships at Omnibus located at Paramount Studios in Hollywood and at Real Time Design in Chicago. As a production assistant at Digital Effects, Inc. in NY, she handled postproduction operations for digital animation. While living in Hollywood, she was active in LA SIGGRAPH. In Mississippi, as an assistant professor in a Graduate Program for Electronic Visualization, she taught brainwave controlled animation and gaming and founded OKSIGGRAPH for Oktibbeha County, MS. After moving to Northern Virginia, she was Director of Web Communications at George Mason University and co-chaired DCSIGGRAPH with Mary Higgins. Paras has published peer-reviewed articles on brainwave learning and gaming and has been an invited speaker to France, Australia, and the UK—where she presented a brainwave interactive gaming prototype at the Dana Centre Museum of Science in London. In the US, Paras has demonstrated brainwave technology at the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage, the Corcoran Gallery of Art, the American Film Institute, Walker Art Museum (Minneapolis), National Qigong Association (PA), and at universities and convention centers in Los Angeles, Boston, Florida, Michigan, Washington State, Hawaii, and Virginia.  Currently, Paras is the Media Relations Coordinator for DC SIGGRAPH. She works at MindSpec, Inc., a nonprofit organization that utilizes innovative bioinformatics strategies to accelerate research on common neurodevelopmental disorders. She is part of GMU’s Healing Arts Ensemble and a Research Associate for the Music and Well-Being Program at the university.

LOCATION:
Torpedo Factory Art Center
105 N. Union St.
Alexandria, VA 22314
703-838-4565
http://www.torpedofactory.org

Directions:
The Torpedo Factory Art Center is located at the intersection of King Street and N. Union Street in Old Town Alexandria
http://torpedofactory.org/visit/directions/

Paid parking is available across the street from the Torpedo Factory or you can take the free trolley from the King Street metro center. Paid street parking is available in most areas of Old Town Alexandria. There is limited free parking in nearby residential areas, but it is restricted to two hours. There are several garages within walking distance of the Torpedo Factory Art Center, too. For real-time maps to locate parking in garages, visit the ParkMe website or download their free iPhone app. Parking regulations are strictly enforced by the City of Alexandria. Parking is free after 9 pm, on Sundays, and on state holidays. Persons with proper handicapped identification on their cars may park free at any meter and are exempt from residential parking sticker requirements.

Trolley Information:
www.dashbus.com/Trolley

Contact ACM SIGGRAPH Washington DC:
http://washington-dc.siggraph.org/
http://www.meetup.com/DC-ACM-SIGGRAPH/
https://www.facebook.com/DCsiggraph
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/dc-siggraph

DATE:   Thursday, February 23, 2017
FROM:  7:00-9:00pm
WHERE:  US Patent and Trademark Office (directions below)

The Washington DC chapter of ACM SIGGRAPH is proud to present User Experience Design (UX)/ Human Centered Design with Matthew Conti.  Mr. Conti, an acknowledged Pioneer in the UX Design field, will not only provide key insights into this exciting field, he will also discuss practices in Human Centered Design as well the importance of how we interface and interact with our environment of things.

Interest in UX Design has grown rapidly over the years and has been applied to many different fields.   With the proliferation of workplace computers in the early 1990s, user experience became an important concern for designers.  The goal of UX Design is to enhance user satisfaction with a product by improving the usability, accessibility, and pleasure provided in the interaction with the product.

Please join us on Thursday, February 23, 2017 from 7pm to 9pm at the US Patent and Trademark Office to learn more about UX Design/ Human Centered Design and its applications.

BIOGRAPHY
Matthew Conti

Matthew Conti is an Independent in Graphics and Techniques with experience in Aeronautical Design for the FAA, International Development for USAID, Learning and Simulation for the Marine Corps, and National Assessment of Educational Progress for the Dept. of Education.  Matt has also had the good fortune to work with Presidents/CEOs, Founders, and Partners in Web Development for small to mid-size Federal Contractors, as well as providing Consultation services.  Matt has been bestowed 6+ Honors/Awards in the Academia of the Arts.

LOCATION:
The meeting will be held at the
Remsen Building (400 Dulany Street) at the 1st floor conference room. We are located 2 blocks from the

KING STREET METRO station (BLUE/YELLOW Lines)

http://www.wmata.com/rail/station_detail.cfm?station_id=48
http://goo.gl/maps/UW6p0 -(Walking Directions)

PARKING:
Street Parking
$1.75 per hour, 2 hour max
Free after 9pm

Hoffman Town Center Garage
206 Swamp Fox Rd
Alexandria, VA 22314

Additional paid parking garages are also available in the area.

Contact ACM SIGGRAPH Washington DC:
http://wp.siggraph.org/washington/
http://www.meetup.com/DC-ACM-SIGGRAPH/
https://www.facebook.com/DCsiggraph
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/dc-siggraph

The 2016 SIGGRAPH Computer Animation Festival has finally arrived! The Washington DC Chapter of ACM SIGGRAPH has selected some of the best animations from the 2016 Computer Animation festival to showcase and discuss. The Computer Animation Festival showcases some of the most dazzling and innovative collection of submitted works selected by a distinguished jury of computer graphics experts and specialists. SIGGRAPH’s Computer Animation Festival celebrates its 43rd year as the world’s leading festival of the most innovative and accomplished computer graphics.

The SIGGRAPH Computer Animation Festival is recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as a qualifying festival for the Academy Awards. Since 1999, several works originally presented in the Computer Animation Festival have been nominated for or have received a “Best Animated Short” Academy Award. In the words of CAF Director Jerome Solomon, “There’s no other stage in the world comparable to SIGGRAPH’s Computer Animation Festival.”

Please join us on Thursday, January 26, 2017 from 7pm to 9pm at the US Patent and Trademark Office as showcase some of the best examples of animation from the 2016 Computer Animation Festival.

LOCATION:
The meeting will be held at the
Remsen Building (400 Dulany Street) at the 1st floor conference room. We are located 2 blocks from the
KING STREET METRO station (BLUE/YELLOW Lines)

http://www.wmata.com/rail/station_detail.cfm?station_id=48

http://goo.gl/maps/UW6p0 -(Walking Directions)

PARKING:

Street Parking
$1.75 per hour, 2 hour max
Free after 9pm

Hoffman Town Center Garage
206 Swamp Fox Rd
Alexandria, VA 22314
$1.50 per hour, $7.00 max

Additional paid parking garages are also available in the area.

Contact ACM SIGGRAPH Washington DC:
http://washington-dc.siggraph.org/
http://www.meetup.com/DC-ACM-SIGGRAPH/
https://www.facebook.com/DCsiggraph
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/dc-siggraph