The Lightkeepers
Meet the People That make Portland shine
Portland’s makers share a spirit that binds them, whether they’re painting murals, shucking oysters, or hosting a dance party. These passionate people shape our communities with their hands and hearts, adding soul to our creative coastal city of the sea through their culture. You’re invited to dive a little deeper into how they help make Portland so special.
The Lightkeepers
Artists
In studios, galleries, and shared spaces, these artists are expanding what Portland looks like — and who it belongs to.
Indigo Arts Alliance
Daniel Minter
Artist and educator Daniel Minter has helped shape Portland into a more culturally connected and inclusive creative hub as the co-founder of Indigo Arts Alliance, which brings Black and Brown artists from around the world to Portland. He is known for richly layered works exploring the Afro-Atlantic experience and themes of resilience and belonging. His efforts bring new perspectives, deepen cultural dialogue, and help Portland grow as a welcoming and creatively diverse city.
JKP Studios
Jordan Kendall Parks
Jordan Kendall Parks is a Portland artist whose work connects people to place. Through printmaking, installation, and outdoor exhibitions, she blends art and nature to invite new audiences into Maine’s landscapes. Drawing on her experiences as a Black and biracial woman, Parks explores belonging, environmental stewardship, and shared history. By bringing art beyond gallery walls and into forests, islands, and public spaces, she helps more people see themselves reflected in Maine’s natural and creative communities.
Loquat
Madison Poitras-Upton
Fashion and textile artist Madison Poitras-Upton is co-founder of Loquat, a Portland-based slow-fashion brand dedicated to empowering marginalized communities through art and design. A Maine College of Art graduate, Madison draws inspiration from music, performance, and cultural storytelling to create clothing as wearable art. Through Loquat’s collaborations, materials, and community focus, she helps foster representation in fashion and contributes to Portland’s diverse and supportive creative culture.
The Lightkeepers
Chefs
From family recipes to modern kitchens, these chefs are redefining Portland’s culinary scene while turning every meal into a connection.
Aomori Restaurant & Market
Reo Miyake
Reo Miyake is enriching Portland’s dining scene with Aomori Restaurant and Market, a family-run business bringing authentic Japanese cuisine and culture to the city. Reo and his partner, Helen, are continuing to build upon his family’s legacy begun by acclaimed Portland chef Masahiko Miyake by blending traditional hospitality with fresh ideas, offering thoughtfully prepared dishes and specialty Japanese goods. By sharing the flavors, values, and spirit of Japanese culture, Reo and his family add depth to Portland’s evolving and diverse food community.
Luncheonette
Angela & Alex
Through Luncheonette, Angela and Alex are helping define a more expansive version of Portland’s food identity. Their menu pulls inspiration from many cultures and traditions, transforming familiar comfort foods and vegetable-forward dishes into something eclectic, flavorful, and new. Just as important, they’ve created a restaurant that feels approachable and personal—an intimate, mom-and-pop space where hospitality comes first, and where Portland’s old soul and evolving creative energy meet in one room.
The Lightkeepers
Scene Setters
Love is love for these inclusive champions who are building bold businesses where people can see themselves represented and welcomed.
Cocktail Mary & Supper Club Cocktail Lounge
Isaac Macdougal
Drawing on his background in food, beverage, and the arts, Isaac creates spaces where queer joy, community, and celebration thrive. A Portland-born bartender, he opened Cocktail Mary and Supper Club Cocktail Lounge to use hospitality to help people feel less alone and more at home by championing queer visibility. His venues offer more than a night out — they provide a place to be seen, meet others, and connect, while welcoming the broader city into that spirit of openness and joy.