ACM SIGGRAPH has selected Mikki Rose, Fur Technical Director at Blue Sky Studios, as the SIGGRAPH 2019 Conference Chair. The longtime event volunteer and last year’s Production Sessions chair has been an active member of the organization for 15 years.
“We are thrilled to have Mikki on board to lead the SIGGRAPH 2019 conference,” said Rebecca Strzelec, SIGGRAPH Conference Advisory Group Chair. “She has consistently demonstrated superb leadership in her various roles with us over the years, starting as a student volunteer in 2002.”
Self-dubbed “CG hairstylist” Rose is an accomplished computer graphics artist from North White Plains, NY, whose film credits include The Peanuts Movie and Hotel Transylvania. As a fur specialist at Blue Sky, Rose tackles everything from hair and cloth to feathers and vegetation — the kind of textural details that can make or break a believable animated world.
Rose studied general CG production at university and holds BS degrees in Computer Science and Digital Animation from Middle Tennessee State University as well as an MFA in Digital Production Arts from Clemson University. Prior to Blue Sky, she lived in California and held positions with Rhythm & Hues Studios and Sony Pictures Imageworks.
“I have grown to rely on each SIGGRAPH as an opportunity for renewal of inspiration in both my professional and personal creative work. In taking on the role of Chair, my goal is to provide an environment for those exact activities (to others),” said Rose. “Our industries are changing and developing at an astounding rate. It is my task to incorporate new techniques while continuing to enrich our long-standing traditions.”
Jennifer Tyrrell, VP of Human Resources at Blue Sky Studios, commented:
“Blue Sky strives to be an innovator of talent and technology. We have long enjoyed being part of the SIGGRAPH community; fostering and building relationships within the animation industry and with educators alike. We look forward to continuing the journey with Mikki at the helm in 2019.”
Rose will pick up the torch from SIGGRAPH 2018 Conference Chair Roy C. Anthony, Research & Innovation at Christie.
SIGGRAPH 2019 will take place in Los Angeles from July 28-August 1. This year’s edition is set for July 30-August 3 in LA. Last year’s SIGGRAPH event hosted over 14,000 attendees from 73 countries.
