FORT PIERCE FOLKS
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Steel has recently been working in a new medium called performance art.
Melodramas are staged in front of Steel’s paintings that visually chronicle
the text in his books — “Net Loss,” which is based in Florida, and “Fishing
Gone,” based in the Chesapeake.
front of 12 of Steel’s paintings, visually chronicles the story of
the net fishermen’s fast-fading lifestyle. The story was written
with author Evelyn Wilde Mayerson. “Performances were
scheduled for nine venues, but we ended up performing in 22
venues for 10,000 people,” Steel says.
A second edition of his performing arts series, titled “Fishing
Gone,” is based in the Chesapeake Bay region. This book
and performance, as well as the paintings, capture the life of
the Watermen of Tangier Island. Author Roger Vaughan and
Steel portray the uniqueness of this island and the challenges
facing the watermen, whose livelihoods are threatened by
diminishing numbers of oysters and crabs.
Steel is putting the finishing touches on the paintings
for a third performing arts project called “A Green Sky.” It
traces the history and the disappearance of the New England
lobstermen. “By the time this third series is finished, I will
have painted 40 paintings for the three projects,” Steel says.
Performances are planned for 10 venues, from Mystic Seaport
in Connecticut north to Maine.
ARCHITECTURE
Even with much artistic acclaim, Steel remains modest,
especially about his architectural work. Before coming to
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