Donnette Ingrid Zacca (born May 2, 1957) is a Jamaican fine art photographer, lecturer, and artist. ''The Jamaican Magazine'' and the
National Gallery of Jamaica
The National Gallery of Jamaica, in Kingston, Jamaica, is Jamaica's public art museum. It was established in 1974 and is located in the Kingston Mall, a commercial and cultural center on Kingston harbour. The National Gallery of Jamaica also has ...
have listed her among the best photographers in the nation. She has exhibited at the National Gallery's Biennial and was the recipient of the
Institute of Jamaica
The Institute of Jamaica (IOJ), founded in 1879, is the country's most significant cultural, artistic and scientific organisation:Silver Musgrave Medal in 2015.
Early life and education
Zacca was born in St James, Jamaica. Zacca cites her having grown up in rural Jamaica as the beginning of her appreciation of the outdoors. One of her earliest exposures to photography was when her uncle had returned from the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
and gifted her a Kodak Instamatic camera when she around 13-14 years old. It was a small point and shoot camera with 24 exposures. Zacca attended Mt. Alvernia High School. She majored in graphic design and art education at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts. In 1988, Zacca received a USAID scholarship to study photography at the
University of Ohio
Ohio University is a public research university in Athens, Ohio. The first university chartered by an Act of Congress and the first to be chartered in Ohio, the university was chartered in 1787 by the Congress of the Confederation and subseq ...
. Unfortunately, she experienced discrimination during her time there when another student had destroyed her artwork. In 2004, Zacca received her Masters of Fine Art degree from
Maryland Institute College of Art
The Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) is a private art and design college in Baltimore, Maryland. It was founded in 1826 as the Maryland Institute for the Promotion of the Mechanic Arts, making it one of the oldest art colleges in the U ...
.
Career
Zacca currently works as a photography lecturer and lab technician at
Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts
Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, formerly Jamaica School of Art and Crafts, is an art school in Kingston, Jamaica. In 1940, Edna Manley pioneered evening art classes at the Institute of Jamaica's Junior Centre but it was ...
. She is the co-founder of the Jamaican photography club, Just Black and White (JBW). Zacca describes her art as the primary process of expressing her ideas. Zacca's approach to photography is based on the observation of her surroundings and the issues and concerns of women.
Personal life
Zacca currently resides in Kingston, Jamaica.
Achievements
* Commissioned by the Jamaica Postal Service to create 12 stamps in 2003.
* Received the Silver Musgrave Medal for outstanding merit.
* Received the Jamaica Cultural Development Annual Photography Award.
* Received the National Heritage Trust Photography Competition award.
* Received the National Gallery of Jamaica purchase award.