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downsandtowns

@downsandtowns

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ART. ADVENTURE. ADVOCACY.
Photographer with Down syndrome traveling the world | Nikon Creator Official Partner | GAMUT Talent | Follow or join me!

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Meet the people helping shape the future of Shagara.

We’re incredibly proud to introduce our inaugural Board of Directors:

Houston Vandergriff
Award-winning international travel photographer, self-advocate, and founder of @downsandtowns . Houston uses photography, travel, and storytelling to challenge stereotypes and create a more inclusive world. His work has reached audiences around the globe.

Fred Maahs Jr.
Internationally recognized disability advocate, accessibility expert, keynote speaker, and Founder & Chief Accessibility Visionary of @journeyable . Fred has spent decades advancing disability inclusion and accessibility around the world.

Daniel Martin Rynerson
Psychology educator, researcher, and musician. Daniel is an Adjunct Instructor of Psychology at Montclair State University, with a background in cognitive science, psychophysics, neuroscience research, and music.

Together, they bring an extraordinary range of experience across disability advocacy, accessibility, photography, the arts, psychology, education, and music — all deeply connected to Shagara’s mission of creating belonging by connecting people with and without disabilities, activating artists, and bringing communities together.

We’re honored to have them helping guide Shagara into this next chapter 🌳

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✈️ Live life to the fullest! ✈️ That’s the message behind every photo taken by Houston of Downs & Towns. From his home base in Knoxville, Tennessee, Houston has explored all 50 states, 6 Canadian provinces, and 32 countries, and he hopes his photographs will inspire others to live with adventure and compassion. Houston’s 2027 calendars will be at The Celebrate Shop, so stop by and bring a little adventure home! 🗺️ ⚡️#TheCelebrateShop #CelebrateEDU #ShopWithPurpose #EntrepreneursWithDisabilities #DiscoverYourAWESOME

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Episode 12: Week in the life of a creative agency and art gallery owner

This week we celebrated 6 months of @moments_gallery_nyc 🥂

Thank you all for the support, kind messages and following along the crazy journey! Cant say it enough, feeling very blessed and excited for what’s to come.

We also had a special visit from photographer @colonmarta703 who came to see her work one last time before we switch out exhibitions.

Talk about an inspiration! Marta doesn’t let any disability prevent her from following her passion.

The girls and I also went to a few fun events this week include a panel hosted by @rubenaaustin from @floramembers where we had the chance to hear from @kirkmyersfitness and @angel_liu612

Very engaging talk and I highly suggest following for those looking for a good community and network to join. Thanks again Ruben for putting this together.

Final stop, @artbodeganyc to celebrate @butterflymush group show and bday. Congrats Andrea and to all the artists involved. Can’t wait for the next one!

Thanks for following along and stay tuned guys. Making announcements this week and we are definitely ending 2026 with our biggest event to date.

See you all in episode 13!

#weekinthelife #femalefounder #founderjourney #nycentrepreneur #founderlife

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Celebrating 6 months of Moments. Gallery

Six months of art, culture, community, and so many unforgettable moments.

What started as an idea to rethink how people experience and connect with art has grown into something we’re incredibly proud of.

Thank you for supporting our artists, sharing our vision and following along the journey.

Cheers to 6 months 🥂

#momentsgallerynyc #nycartgallery #artshow #nycart #artgallery

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6 months of Moments.

Incredibly proud and grateful for what we’re building at @moments_gallery_nyc

Six months of bringing together art, culture, community and experiences, with every exhibition giving us an opportunity to do something different.

✨ Dreams Manifest
Thank you @kingsaladeen and team for setting the tone with our Grand Opening. We also welcomed local students for our first youth art workshop, where they created artwork that became part of the show.

🇬🇷 Dreaming of Greece
Celebrating 205 years of Greek independence with @sagaponyc and artists and partners across the Greek community. We connected the NYC diaspora, showcased artists from Greece, hosted a youth workshop with @afantisschool and donated a portion of art sales to support Elias Manolis following his kidney transplant.

🏀 New York Knicks
The city’s largest free Knicks art exhibition, featuring artists from around the world and celebrating a cultural moment in NYC history.

⚽️ FIFA World Cup Open Call
Giving artists worldwide a free opportunity to submit their work for a chance to be exhibited and participate in one of the world’s biggest cultural moments.

🖼️ Pop Odyssey
Thank you @jaekeldiablo for bringing art, cars, music, fashion and hip hop culture together through an experience that went far beyond the walls. And donating a portion of art sales to @fullblastbooking in support of men’s mental health and suicide prevention.

💛 Assume I Can
With @downsandtowns and @ndssorg we celebrated 50+ artists from 19 countries and 200+ artworks, creating one of the world’s largest exhibitions celebrating artists with Down Syndrome.

🙏 Thank you @dreamdowntown for opening your doors and giving Moments. Gallery a home. Thank you @metasill.io

And thank you to everyone who has visited, collected, supported, partnered with us or trusted us with your work.

Moments. Gallery was intentionally built different. We’re reimagining how people experience and connect with art while creating opportunities for artists and communities along the way.

What an incredible first six months. And we’re just getting started.

🥂 ✨

#momentsgallerynyc #nycartgallery #nycevents #femalefounder #art

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🎉 The Celebrate Shop is BACK! 🎉
Mark your calendars for November 6 & 7 at The Curtis Hotel in Denver! This year’s Shop will feature hundreds of amazing products from more than 34 incredible entrepreneurs with disabilities.

Starting tomorrow, we’ll be featuring a different Celebrate Shop entrepreneur each day! Get ready to meet the makers, learn about their businesses, and start making your Celebrate Shop wish list. 🛍️⚡️
📍The Curtis Hotel | Denver
📆 November 6–7
#TheCelebrateShop #CelebrateEDU #ShopWithPurpose #EntrepreneursWithDisabilities #DisabilityOwnedBusiness

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Art is one thing to experience. Meeting the artist behind it is another.

Omar and Erin share their experience discovering @downsandtowns work and meeting the artist behind the lens.

Assume I Can has been extended for a few more days.

Celebrating over 50 artists with Down Syndrome, from 19 different countries and over 200 artworks exhibited. In partnership with @ndssorg

Come experience the exhibition at Moments. Gallery inside @dreamdowntown open 24/7

#momentsgallerynyc #artistswithdownsyndrome #assumeican #nycartshow #travelphotographer

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Creating unforgettable moments.

That will always be the goal with @moments_agency_ and @moments_gallery_nyc

Grateful I get to use my platforms for these incredible experiences. This was by far one of the most rewarding shows we have done to date.

Assume I Can
One of the world’s largest exhibitions celebrating artists with Down Syndrome.

Showcasing over 50 artists from 19 different countries and more than 200 artworks on display. In partnership with @ndssorg

Come visit Moments. Gallery at @dreamdowntown through September and experience Assume I Can in person

Open 24/7 to the public.

📸 @jacoboderberg

#momentsgallerynyc #assumeican #nycartgallery #artistswithdownsyndrome

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Art Gives Us A Voice.

During Assume I Can, we had the opportunity to meet Grace, who stopped by @moments_gallery_nyc and shared her thoughts on why art is so important for people with Down Syndrome.

For Grace, creating art is a way to express yourself, share your perspective and show the world who you are.

Thank you Grace for visiting us and sharing your thoughts. These are the voices Assume I Can was created to celebrate and amplify.

Assume I Can is on view throughout September at Moments. Gallery inside @dreamdowntown

View the full collection through the link in our bio.

#momentsgallerynyc #assumeican #artfordownsyndrome #artistswithdownsyndrome

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“Do what you do, and do it with greatness.”

Katie Vandergriff, mom to photographer and Assume I Can co-host @downsandtowns shares a simple reminder: everyone has their own gifts, strengths, and areas of genius.

A perspective that captures the spirit of Assume I Can, celebrating individuality, recognizing talent, and looking beyond assumptions.

Assume I Can remains on view through the end of September. Visit us at our 24/7 location inside @dreamdowntown to experience the exhibition in person.

Explore the full collection through the link in our bio.

#momentsgallerynyc #assumeican #artistswithdownsyndrome #downsyndromeawarness

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Another successful event at @moments_gallery_nyc yet this one was by far the most fulfilling.

Assume I Can
Celebrating Artists with Down Syndrome in partnership with @ndssorg

I truly don’t believe in accidents or coincidences. From the internal nudge that led me to reach out to @downsandtowns to every conversation, connection and moment of alignment that followed, it’s been beautiful to watch this exhibit build momentum and ultimately come to life on opening day.

Thank you to everyone who participated, who supported, and all those who played an essential role in bringing this to life. I’m so grateful for the new people I’ve met and the meaningful connections that came from this experience.

I hope this show inspires people to use their platform, no matter how big or small, for good. You never know how much your voice, your support or simply showing up can mean to someone.

Thank you God for all my blessings. May I continue to use these opportunities to elevate others along my journey.

Come visit us throughout September @dreamdowntown and experience this beautiful artwork in person.

📸 @jacoboderberg

#momentsgallerynyc #assumeican #charityartevent #ndss

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What an absolute joy to meet and reunite with so many of you at the 2026 @ndssorg NYC Buddy Walk ! It’s always a spectacular event and this year was no exception! The weather was superb and the company was even better! Thank you @ndssorg and thank you @rebeccakouvasphotography and @camilynne_photography for some beautiful shots to add to my collection of the day!!

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