Good chimes: This artist crafts sculptures featuring ringable bells and handmade glass

Written by Jessi Bang
May 19, 2024

APPLE VALLEY — One local artist is creating everything from indoor sculptures to 25-foot garden installations with all the bells and whistles.

A metal sculpture by Michael Beals is installed in his home garden in Apple Valley, Utah, April 15, 2024 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
A metal sculpture by Michael Beals is installed in his home garden in Apple Valley, Utah, April 15, 2024 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News

Ring leader Michael Beals is a metal sculpture artist and master welder renowned for his “celebration bells”, created using a fourth-generation free-hand welding technique. He encourages owners of his work to ring the bell in the morning to celebrate the day ahead and again in the evening to give thanks for the day passed.

“Any image that you can think of, I can transpose and put on metal,” Beals said. “All of the designs that you see that I create are created by drawing with liquid steel. And you’ll never see anything like it again.”

Beals’s sculptures come in various sizes, from small indoor tabletop pieces to larger outdoor garden installations, each featuring a handcrafted bell that can be rung. Incorporating elements of stone and glass, he uses bells as symbols, representing life’s journey and the passage of time.

The final color of his sculptures comes from a baked-on resin that doesn’t rust, fade or tarnish. The development of the patented resin involved a collaborative effort between him and an individual based in Sweden. 100% committed to customer satisfaction, he never leaves his metal raw.

Michael Beals and his wife Michelle smile in front of their home in Apple Valley, Utah, April 15, 2024 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
Michael Beals and his wife Michelle smile in front of their home in Apple Valley, Utah,
April 15, 2024 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News

Beals is both a collector and a creator of steel, specializing in a technique known as “cobbles”. This process involves injecting contaminants into liquid steel within four-inch by four-inch vats, resulting in steel forms that are impossible to bend once solidified.

His primary clientele consists of interior decorating companies, and his work can be seen inside numerous multi-million-dollar homes across the country. Currently, his art is showcased in 37 fine art galleries from New York to Oregon. Beals said he has received recognition in every major metal and design award category. His most recent award came from the Utah Arts Festival in Salt Lake City, where he won Best in Show.

“That’s kind of a big deal when you’re dealing with Best in Show,” he said. “You’re up against about 60 different mediums, so for them to select metal as opposed to oil on canvas or watercolor or glass or mixed media, and there are such tremendous artists.”

A sculpture by Michael Beals features handmade glass and metal work, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Michael Beals, St. George News
A sculpture by Michael Beals features handmade glass and metal work, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Michael Beals, St. George News

Beals started his journey in the art world specializing in ceramics and glasswork. He applies those same techniques to his work today, making his own glass, including cathedral glass, that is incorporated in almost every sculpture. He was inspired by his older brother to begin welding, and interacting with fellow artists pioneering metal sculpting further shaped his unique style.

What sets his work apart? It’s all in his training. Beals underwent professional training in Wiesbaden, Germany for a year under the mentorship of a third-generation blacksmith, who accepted only two interns every three years. He also lived in Japan where he mastered the art of drip welding. However, his journey didn’t start in the realm of art and it isn’t his sole pursuit. 

Beal grew up in Palm Springs, California, where he started his career washing dishes at a prestigious restaurant. Throughout high school, he progressed from waiting tables to apprenticing under a skilled chef, eventually becoming a sous chef. He later shifted gears to a career in sales and also opened a technology franchise that offered the first IBM PCs. He was the Senior Vice President of a large tech company while living in Austin, Texas. After pulling out a map and realizing Alaska was the only place he hadn’t been, it led him to purchase land to create a fishing lodge.

“This is wild animals and fish and all kinds of stuff, so we decided to go to Alaska,“ Beals said. “We went from a large home on a golf course to about a 28-foot trailer with no running water, with a dog, a cat and two kids. And I built Timber Wolf Lodge.”

A metal sculpture features handmade glass by Michael Beals, Apple Valley, Utah, April 15, 2024 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News

That was 25 years ago, and he and his wife Michelle now split their time between Alaska and Utah. Beals said he participates heavily in St. George organizations created to help others, such as the Children’s Crisis Center. Locally, his artwork can be seen at Sand Hollow Resort and The Ledges golf course. Beals hopes to leave a timeless legacy through his metal sculptures for future generations to cherish and enjoy. He credits his wife Michelle of 41 years for pushing him to pursue his passions and tirelessly helping him with his art and all other aspects of his life.

For more information on Beals and to purchase online, visit his website. For those interested in shopping his work in person, he extends an open invitation to visit his working studio in Apple Valley. To schedule a time to visit, call 435-703-8851 or email [email protected].

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2024, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jessi Bang was born and raised in Utah and has a passion for nature and the great outdoors. She graduated from Kaplan University in California with a degree in criminal justice. She has extensive experience in marketing, content creation, photography and copywriting. You can find her showcasing outdoor adventures through her blog, “The Rambling Raccoon.” In her free time, she enjoys climbing mountains, trail running, working out and cuddling her two lovable pups.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @STGnews

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