The MVHC Member Behind the Glass: Martha’s Vineyard Multimedia Artist Barney Zeitz
One of the first things you’ll see when you walk in the Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center, is the beautiful stained glass window above the bimah. Each section depicts an important symbol from the Torah. You’ll see the shabbat lion, the burning bush, the tree of life, and many more. This one-of-a-kind centerpiece was actually created by one of our incredible members, multimedia artist Barney Zeitz.
Barney Zeitz moved to the Vineyard in 1972. He participated in the anti-war movement in his time at UMass Amherst, attended the 1971 May Day protests in Washington D.C., and studied abroad in Copenhagen, before deciding to pursue his artistic career here. Barney describes the island in those days as “dead quiet.” He taught himself how to build stained glass from a book and created his first piece. On the first night he displayed that piece, he not only sold it but received the commission for his next piece. His incredible career had begun at a running start.
Today, Barney is also a skilled welder and sketch artist. His works are displayed publicly and privately all over the world. His public works include:
- Flieden German Church Former Synagogue
- Diversity Sculpture on Fall River Government Center
- Plymouth Immigrant Memorial
- African American Heritage Trail on Martha’s Vineyard
- Window at Maple Gove
- Providence Holocaust Memorial
- Who Shall Ascend at Rodef Shalom Temple in Pittsburgh
- Berkshire South Regional Community Center
- Walter Suskind Memorial at the Wang Center for Performing Arts
- Memorial Tree Book of Remembrance at Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center
Barney Zeitz is especially passionate about creating work with a social or political message. As you see above, many of his public works are memorials for under-represented people. Two of his most recent pieces are displayed on the African-American Heritage Trail of Martha’s Vineyard. They each honor African women who were enslaved on Martha’s Vineyard, Rebecca Amos and Nancy Michael.
The Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center has been a part of Barney’s life for a long time. He has been a member since 1996. He and his wife Phyllis, who was actually raised Catholic, love coming to Shabbat services. He has enjoyed classes and adult education programs with the Rabbi. Barney says, “I enjoy being with Caryn as a teacher, and we’ve talked about lots of things. The Hebrew Center is a place where I feel people are very open, but we’re not all the same.” He has even consulted her on some of his commissions, including the Flieden German Church Former Synagogue.
Next time you visit the Hebrew Center, take an extra look at the beautiful stained glass window or his metal sculpture, the Memorial Tree Book of remembrance. We couldn’t be more grateful to have such special pieces in our Hebrew Center and Barney as a member in our community.