Public Work
Barney Zeitz has been making public work in both stained glass and welded metal sculptures for over fifty years. In the early 70’s, his work was in leaded stained glass, but by 1978, he was experimenting with fused stained glass, crushing glass in a home made welded bucket with a sledge hammer (still using to this day), and trying metal oxide underpainting to create effects between the layers of glass. He has laminated these fused glass castings using epoxy and silicone. As early as 1982, these windows were commissioned for sanctuaries, churches, and other public spaces across the country. After learning how to weld metals at an adult education class on Martha’s Vineyard. in 1977, he went on to making a variety of objects in metals, including furniture, lighting, and then sculpture. He has won competitions for a Holocaust Memorial in Providence R.I. (1992), and Immigrant Memorial in Plymouth, MA (2001). More recently, in 2021, Zeitz installed the Diversity Sculpture on Government Center in Fall River (his hometown) after two years of directly welding stainless steel for two years alone during Covid lockdowns.
Flieden German Church Former Synagogue, fused and laminated stained glass with metal oxide underpainting, 2015-2019. click image for details
Diversity Sculpture on Fall River Government Center, Forged and Welded Stainless Steel Click picture for details
Immigrant Memorial Plymouth, 2000-2001, forged and welded stainless steel, inlayed bronze lettering, 12' tall. Click image for details
Window for Center at Maple Grove, 15' x 17' Fused stained glass with metal oxide underpainting, 2006-2007
Rebecca Woman from African American Heritage Trail of Martha's Vineyard, 84" tall, 2024. Click image for details
Holocaust Memorial Providence Rhode Island
Who Shall Ascend? Rodef Shalom Temple
Nancy Michael Memorial, Edgartown Memorial Wharf, African American Heritage Trail site, 2022, forged and welded stainless steel, 48" tall
Memorial Tree Book of Remembrance, Martha's Vineyard Hebrew Center, 2001-2002, forged and welded steel with bronze, stainless steel and aluminum pages, 60" x 60"
Berkshire South Regional Community Center, 107" x 48" x 36", forged and welded stainless steel
Walter Suskind Memorial at the Wang Center for the Performing Arts, Boston, MA, 1994, 54"x24"x12", welded, forged, brazed steel with bronze inlay lettering and fused and slumped glass with metal oxide underpainting.