Daily Inspiration: Meet Robert Onnes

Today we’d like to introduce you to Robert Onnes

Hi Robert, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My Name is Robert Onnes and I am an established sculptor from New Zealand working predominantly with steel and copper, exhibiting in many group and solo shows in New Zealand and Michigan.

After a visit to the city in 2012, my wife and I were inspired to move to Detroit from New Zealand with the strong belief that Detroit has the potential to be a leading national and international arts center. In 2014, with the help of Robert Sestock (a leading Cass Corridor artist), I opened 333 Midland – an historic factory that I have transformed into art studios and gathering spaces that provide exceptional resources for artists’ work to grow. Robert Sestock organized a memorable weekend exhibition, “BIG Paintings @ The Factory”. Response to this first exhibition was exceedingly positive, and I was happy to receive feedback that 333 Midland was “The best thing in Detroit’s arts scene this century.” Shortly thereafter, I developed the adjacent Annex Gallery – an artist-led exhibition space that allows people to develop art shows on their own terms and demonstrate their work as it was made to be seen.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Moving country is a major undertaking and early in this process, I struggled for sufficient money to open studios with heating to artists. As we fitted out more studios, this became a lot easier.

Along the way we expanded the vision of what the space could be, making further improvements to the studio facilities and Annex Gallery.

Now I am pursuing another building around the corner (In Detroit) which will become The BIG Art.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My primary artistic practice involves making large-scale sculpture from Corten Steel and small works from copper.

My background in electronics and as a property developer has influenced the current processes I use including CAD, CNC cutting and MIG welding.

One of the unique distinctions of my work is his interest in the constraints and possibilities found with using sheet metal to design three dimensional forms. Whilst they have the presence of a solid cast work they utilize quite a different process that I have perfected over many years. The use of steel and copper allows the construction of substantial forms, while maintaining an earthy organic quality that suits the themes of my work.

When I first arrived in Detroit, I set about building and eight foot Kiwi from Corten Steel which is installed outside the studios. I also created a 16ft sculpture called Doubt and Dogma (False Dichotomy) in 2017 and last year I completed three “Bears” which were shown outside the Henry Ford Presidential Library in Grand Rapid for ArtPrize.

We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
You have success when things turn out better than what you envisaged.

Pricing:

• Attendance at shows and events is free

Contact Info:

• Website: www.333midland.com, www.thebigart.org, www.onnz.co.nz
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/333midland_annex_gallery/, www.instagram.com/thebigart.detroit/, www.instagram.com/robertonnes/
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/333midland, www.facebook.com/thebigart.detroit/