Metalgenesis: Don Dickson & Amy Doolittle​

Metalgenesis means the creation of art from an idea as well as the changing properties of a medium. Metalgenesis originated as the artist team and husband and wife, Don Dickson Sculptor, and Amy Doolittle Administrator / Promoter and Assistant. Don was well known across North America for his sound sculptures and public art. From Don’s studio in Mississauga Ontario, his sculptural works were commissioned for public spaces by The District Court of Appeals, Dayton Beach, Florida; Town Hall Park, Osoyoos, British Columbia; University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida; the City of Brampton Performing Arts Centre; the Richard and Annette Bloch Cancer Survivor Garden, Columbia, South Carolina; the Science and Engineering Building at University of North Florida, Jacksonville Florida and the Frank McKechnie Community Centre, Mississauga. Metalgenesis has two works in the Sculpture Forest – Forest Sound Vessel and Evolution. Don was a member of the Sculptors Society of Canada, Society of Canadian Artists, Colour and Form Society, and the Metal Arts Guild, and has won numerous awards for his work.

​After a long and courageous battle with ALS, Amy Doolittle died in 2009. Don Dickson, has carried on the work of Metalgenesis.

Don describes his work in the following way: “I have always been making things with my hands. I have worked with many materials but have gravitated to metal and stone. I made the leap to professional artist in 1998 and discovered two sides to my sculptor’s personality; the abstract and the musical sound. Both paths of expression are important to me and have driven me to create a diverse range of work. The abstracts explore combinations of line and form as well as the political, social, and ecological issues of the world around me. The sound sculptures continue to combine kinetic, visual, and auditory aspects and have evolved from single sound pieces to combining sound sculpture with other abstract sculptural elements. My newest group of works are for the garden, from small sound sculptures to whimsical bugs and creatures.

Combining mediums is intriguing for me as is the textures and types of marble, granite, and limestone that I have been working with. I am fascinated by the four elements which have influenced my recent stone pieces. These works are based on the four creative energies of the universe: Earth, Water, Air, Fire, and the balance between them. The elements work in harmony, seeking balance even though at times their contrary aspects may seem in conflict with each other, to create and to sustain life.”