Meet Rodney Veal | Multi-disciplinary Artist and Television Host

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rodney Veal and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rodney, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
As a television host and, in essence, the “face” of The Art Show (ThinkTV & CET Connect), a weekly series on local, regional, and national artists and arts organizations, I feel that we are in the service of sharing the power of art to transform and connect people. Having been in this position for the past ten years, I have had a wonderful vantage point to tell unique stories about artists of all disciplines. It is a privilege and honor to be in a position to promote the arts and culture.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Growing up, I always knew that I wanted to be an artist, and I honestly cannot remember a time when I didn’t paint or draw. This led to pursuing dual degrees in Visual Arts and Political Science, an unlikely combination borne out of a fear that I wouldn’t or didn’t measure up as a creative. And unexpectedly, while taking dance and P.E. requirements in college, I discovered an aptitude for dance and movement. A discovery that led me to join the second company of Dayton Ballet, one of the oldest regional Ballet companies, after college. This ultimately led to many years of performing, choreographing, and teaching in southwest Ohio. I received my MFA in Choreography from The Ohio State University, and along the way, I created numerous performance-based art installations at museums and galleries.

I took a rather non-linear life and career trajectory and after many decades of working in the arts I was approached by Lynnette Carlino a producer at ThinkTV to audition as the host of a weekly series on art and culture that they were producing and ten years later here we are with an expanding media footprint of a show, podcast and digital arts under “The Art Show” Banner.

I am still creating and crafting collage works on paper and creating independently produced choreographic works while maintaining my job in media and broadcasting. I know it’s a lot of juggling responsibilities, but getting a front-row seat to amazing artists and creators every week allows me to adopt fresh perspectives and challenge myself to expand the range and scope of my own work. The collage work is based on the weaving of strips of discarded paper materials from magazines to posters. Any everyday printed material is used to create these abstracted works. I started to expand into twisting and curving the weaves into sculptural forms to bring in a sense of movement.

I am working constantly but always in the service of creativity and the arts, so it doesn’t feel burdensome or exhausting. I have the freedom to explore and discover and share with a huge portion of the state of Ohio, whether its my own work or the work of others through my media career. Never a dull moment.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Because of our geographic location in Dayton, we have access to activities in Columbus and Cincinnati. We would have to visit the Zaha Hadid designed Contemporary Arts Center in Cincinnati. followed by dInner at
Jose Salazar’s Downtown restaurant Mita’s.

In Dayton , we would pick up some compassionately sourced chocolates from Peace on Fifth, owned by London Coe then head to an afternoon movie at the Neon movies, a local independent movie house. capped off with dinner of Brasied Beef Short Rib, Chile, Pickled Pineapple, Braised Cabbage, Cilantro at Jollity.

A day trip to Yellow Springs, Ohio, for hiking and exploring the nature trails of John Bryant Park, followed by an evening of comedy at Dave’s Comedy Club, owned by Dave Chappelle.

Spend the afternoon touring The Front Street Artist studios, where you can visit almost a hundred artist and artisan studios, and then visit the Second Street market for fresh produce and artisanal foods crafted in Ohio.

travel to Sprinfgfield, Ohio and visit/tour Frank Lloyd Wright’s Westcott House and visit the Springfield Museum Art which showcases some of the best up and coming contemporary artists.

Travel to Columbus and visit the Short North District, which is filled with shops, galleries, and restaurants. Then, visit the Wexner Center for the Arts on the Ohio State Campus for cutting edge art and performances.

Book a luxury cabin in Hocking Hills for your friends and relax and chill in a beautiful forest setting as a way to unwind.

Ohio has many undiscovered treasures.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Without a doubt, people like Bing Davis, who I have the good fortune to be working with on a documentary about his life and 80+-year career as an artist, and my parents, Sherman and Lois Veal, who supported me and my crazy turns as an artist. Talk about unconditional love. ]
I am currently reading Ruha Benjamin’s The Imagination Manifesto, which speaks to manifesting and preserving spaces in which Black creativity can thrive and prosper and perhaps change the world.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rodveal2013/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rodney.veal.9/

Image Credits
(image solo Rodney with Blue Background) phot courtesy of Ohio State University