Whatcha Feeling? | University of Victoria Legacy Art Galleries

A Photo Story by Melanin Magic and Nathan Smith

What's your vibe? This was the question that Jamaican-Canadian photographer, Nathan Smith asked the youth group, Melanin Magic, during a student-led photo shoot one sunny afternoon in May. In asking this question, the students were posed with the challenge to capture how they were feeling on that day, outside their classroom walls as they looked towards a post-pandemic world. What emerged from these self-directed portraits was their desire to be untethered and fully in the moment of who they were, and who they dream to be.
[Image Description: Darius outdoors on his skateboard.] — *Image: Whatcha Feeling: Nathan Smith, FLIGHT, 2021. Photo content: Darius Cordner*

June 19 – September 18, 2021

Tuesday – Saturday, 4:30pm – 10:00pm
Located outside on Broad Street side of Legacy Downtown

Curated by Darius Cordner and Nicole Achtymichuk (UVic BSc ’20, Young Canada Works Curatorial Intern)

What’s your vibe? This was the question that Jamaican-Canadian photographer, Nathan Smith, asked the youth group, Melanin Magic, during a student-led photo shoot one sunny afternoon in May. In asking this question, the students were posed with the challenge to capture how they were feeling on that day, outside their classroom walls as they looked towards a post-pandemic world. What emerged from these self-directed portraits was their desire to be untethered and fully in the moment of who they were, and who they dream to be.

Photos by Nathan Smith, Sophia Ho, Grace Morrison and Tasha Henry

Graphic Art by Dre Gutierrez Reyes

Melanin Magic Students: Daisy, Lia, Tabi, Maheen, Catalina, Summer, Aya, Gabby, Bayan, Tendo, Keira, Sophia, Soren, Cadir, Emmanuel, Tra’she, Jenny, Grace, and Darius