In addition to being a Woman-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE), Mayer/Reed, Inc. is now certified as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) by the Oregon Certification Office for Business Inclusion and Diversity (COBID) and has applied for reciprocity from the Washington State Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises (OMWBE).
Mayer/Reed Gallery Artist Profile: Rob Wente
One of the perks of Mayer/Reed’s new studio is a gallery wall for exhibiting the creative pursuits of our incredibly talented staff.
The inaugural exhibit featured the art of Rob Wente, senior designer and prolific painter. Rob’s two featured works, both acrylic on canvas, depict abstract narratives that spark the imagination. The paintings, titled Burning and Yearning Down at the Crossroads and The Arrival (on a Larger Scale), are meant to transport the viewer into a world of their own making. As Wente explains, “They fuse unearthly imagery with titles that ask the viewer to draw their own interpretations of the stories within.”
Favorites from the sketchbook studies make it to Instagram and a select few are reinterpreted into larger works. In the full-size paintings, Rob continues to layer ideas, paint and what he calls “easter eggs”—hidden details waiting to be discovered by the viewer. He titles the art to hint at the stories they contain, giving viewers a direction for contemplation without fully revealing a meaning. For Rob, each painting is a journey of discovery for both artist and viewer.
Lighting Up Portland’s Smallest Park
For the 2025 Portland Winter Light Festival (PDXWLF), Mayer/Reed returned to a tiny place that holds a very big spot in our hearts: Mill Ends Park. Inspired by festival’s theme, “A Light for Tomorrow: A Technicolor Future,” we set out to imagine a bright future for this charming patch of green in the middle of Naito Parkway.
Our installation, “Chasing Rainbows,” transformed Mill Ends Park into a glowing beacon of light — a celebration of history, imagination, and a bit of leprechaun mischief. Perched atop the park’s concrete base, the faceted acrylic structure shimmered in technicolor hues, catching the eyes of curious passersby. But the real magic revealed itself when visitors peered into the kaleidoscopic portal. There, hidden in plain sight, sparkled an infinity of gold coins — our playful nod to the legend that started it all.
From start to finish, this project offered valuable takeaways. Knowing we would need to build it ourselves, we were challenged to bridge creativity with in-house constructability. Throughout design and fabrication, the diverse backgrounds and talents of our team shined; we leaned on individuals’ carpentry skills, their backgrounds in architecture and industrial design, and of course tapped into our wealth of knowledge in landscape architecture and experiential graphics. Along the way, we encountered — and solved — plenty of design puzzles and experimented with new tools. It was energizing to step outside the usual workflow and make things with our hands.
The 2025 PDXWLF drew hundreds of thousands of visitors to downtown Portland and across the city. We were thrilled to be part of the magic — sharing our glowing tribute to Mill Ends Park and seeing the joy it sparked. It was a reminder that art, light and a little imagination can brighten even the coldest nights.
City of Possibility
Join us in exploring the past, present and future of Portland. City of Possibility explores the ongoing legacy of Portland’s built environment as seen through architectural models. The model exhibition and related events are happening citywide January 31–March 27, 2025.
We are a proud sponsor and participant of City of Possibility. Look for a Mayer/Reed project on display at the model exhibition at the J.K. Gill Building. Principal Emeritus Carol Mayer-Reed, FASLA, is presenting at Portland’s Next Horizon on February 2, and Associate Principal Shannon Simms, ASLA, is speaking at Streets of Possibility on February 24.
Check out the many opportunities to get involved.
