Bloomington photographer and Bloom Magazine managing editor Rodney Margison opened his solo exhibition “A Little Extra Love” on Friday evening at Fountain Square Mall in Bloomington. The lively reception attracted many members of the community since it coincides with- Bloomington’s monthly gallery walk. It also acts as a kickoff for Down Syndrome Awareness Month.
The opening was hosted in partnership with Down Syndrome Family Connection (DSFC), an organization which serves seven southern Indiana counties offering support, events and advocacy for those with Down syndrome. The exhibit features portraits of people with Down syndrome taken for the organization's annual calendar.
This year, however, the photos look a little different. Margison shifted away from posed, formal images seen in previous years, choosing instead to capture laughter, connections and the personality of the subjects.
“We invited everyone to bring someone or something that they love,” Margison said. “Whether it was a dog, parent, sibling or a toy. Once they got comfortable, they just glowed.”
Each portrait tells a story: moments of laughter shared between friends, a teen displaying his star soccer uniform or a child with his most beloved family members.
Holly Markle, a DSFC board member and mother to one of the models, was delighted to have a portrait of her son representing him in an authentic way.
“Some of those with Down syndrome also have autism, and all around, it makes getting out in public sometimes terrifying to them,” Markle said. “He (Margison) was able to provide a quiet photo shoot, and we were able to capture so many faces that sometimes only the family has the ability to see.”
The purpose of “A Little Extra Love,” Margison said, was to increase awareness within the broader community about Down syndrome and to challenge others to see people with disabilities as more than their diagnoses.
“Our students get a little exposure in public schools, but I don’t think the community gets enough,” Markle said. “They are just like you. They are not that different.”
For Margison, connection is the heart of the exhibition.
“To experience seeing people with a disability as people, people who are a lot like them, who like to have fun, who have love, who have interests,” Margison said. “I think that that's a struggle for a lot of people with disabilities is to be able to be seen.”
A colleague of Margison at Bloom Magazine, Lily Marks, attended the exhibit and was impressed by the dedication and compassion reflected in the photographs.
“I just know how much work he put into this and how excited he was to put it up,” Marks said.
Margison’s son, Zach Margison, said the project is a representation of every foundation and principle that his father instilled in him and a culmination of his father's lifelong passion for photography and advocacy.
“The photos are shot absolutely beautifully, I expected nothing less from my father,” Zach Margison said. “And the bios are just such a beautiful representation of the people in the photos that I have a lot of pride in him and in what he's been able to accomplish. The turnout has just been remarkable.”
The opening night drew families, advocates and community members, filling Fountain Square Mall with laughter and smiles. As attendees viewed the exhibition, the sentiment was clear: this was more than a collection of photos. It was a reminder of the joy and humanity of the Down syndrome community.
“Many times, people just think of the struggles,” Markle said. “But I'm hoping they can see these photos and see just how capable and energetic our kiddos are.”
“A Little Extra Love” will be on display 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday through Oct. 31at Fountain Square Mall.
Editor’s note: Lily Marks is a former staff writer at the Indiana Daily Student.
