Vineyard artist Barney Zeitz doesn’t show any sign of stopping as he sits in his Vineyard Haven studio, welding large stacks of metal together surrounded by sculpted dragonflies and stained-glass windows.
Mr. Zeitz’s art has been showcased locally and internationally, with works on the Island, all around Massachusetts and in Germany. His latest project is a metal, full-body sculpture depicting Rebecca Amos, an enslaved woman held as property of Cornelius Bassett, a Chilmark resident. A memorial to Ms. Amos is located at Great Rock Bight Preserve in Chilmark, as part of the African American Heritage Trail of Martha’s Vineyard.
The concept of the piece has been in the works for a few years, Mr. Zeitz said. In 2022, he created a sculpture of Nancy Michael, Ms. Amos’s daughter, that is located at Memorial Wharf in Edgartown. He officially started planning this new piece around six months ago, and it will be unveiled in early October at the Native Earth Teaching Farm.
“This is an educational thing for people to realize that even the past on Martha’s Vineyard included enslaved people,” Mr. Zeitz said. “It’s not that long ago, really, when you think about it.”
Much of Ms. Amos’s life is unknown. She was born in Guinea, West Africa but there is no record of her emancipation, according to the heritage trail website. She married Wampanoag man Elisha Amos and died in 1801. One of her descendants is Capt. William A. Martin, an African American whaling captain.
A plaque honoring Ms. Amos was reported stolen in April from the Great Rock Bight location. A new plaque, made possible with donations from the community, was installed in late May.
Mr. Zeitz said he finds great joy and purpose in reflecting the theme of community with his art. In 2021, he built a sculpture in Fall River, where he grew up, honoring the diverse populations of the city. The sculpture featured indigenous people, immigrants, enslaved people and refugees. While creating the piece, Mr. Zeitz recalled a memorable interaction with an onlooker.
“The central figure is an indigenous man, and next to him is a man who’s clearly of African descent,” Mr. Zeitz said. “The guy said to me, ‘this is for me.’ And I go, ‘well, do you want your name on it?’ I engraved the name right there. It was so moving, he turned to me and he said he loved me. It was really great. I love doing stuff like this.”
Mr. Zeitz emphasized the importance of local funding and support.
“I’m going to finish it no matter what, but it’s a community thing, and if people can pitch in and, you know, people give 50 bucks, or 100 bucks or 10 bucks, [it would go a long way],” he said.
He hosts an open workshop at his Vineyard Haven workshop every Wednesday where members of the public can watch him work on the sculpture.
“I want to be able to be open to having new people come by and show them how to weld, and it’s kind of like a teaching thing, but also potential for having the workshop continue when I’m too old to do it,” Mr. Zeitz said.
The dedication ceremony for the Rebecca Amos sculpture is October 6 at the Native Earth Teaching Farm.
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