Who: Graphic design fans, art lovers, and party people
What: Walker After Hours: CMYK vs. RGB
Where: Walker Art Center
When: Oct. 21, 2011
Why: To get a sneak peek at the Walker’s new exhibit Graphic Design: Now in Production

When it comes to art parties, the Walker knows how to draw a crowd. For some, the party was a chance to see the new exhibit Graphic Design: Now in Production. For others, it was a way to mix and mingle with Twin Cities partygoers. Either way, it was a fun place to spend a Friday night.

The theme of the party was CMYK vs. RGB. For those of you unfamiliar with these geeky design terms, CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, key/black) and RGB (red, green, blue) are color models. By combining these three or four hues, you can create a spectrum of other colors. Guests declared their preference by making their own “Team CMYK” or “Team RGB” button. (For the record, I’m a CMYK girl.) Others got into the theme with their outfits. I saw plenty of color-blocking and head-to-to ensembles in bright hues. (I donned a purple dress and green tights, and I blended right in.)

Besides strolling through the exhibit, guests sipped ginger-flavored vodka cocktails and grazed on appetizers from D’Amico. The Cargill Lounge was the center of the action thanks to music from DJ duo Hi-Fi/Lo Fi. The most popular attraction had to be the photo booth, which was located in a freight elevator. My friends and I had a blast picking out large cutouts of Pantone colors and posing with them.

I also enjoyed the hands-on activity in the Art Lab. I sat at a table filled with stencils, markers, and colored pencils. The purpose? To create your own personalized font. I felt like a kid in art class designing curvy letters and coloring them in. Granted, art class is a lot more fun when you’ve got a cocktail by your side.