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.