In the desert of New Mexico, there are hundreds of beautiful natural caves filled with hidden wonders, including animal life as well as rock formations that took millennia to develop.
But now, one artist has taken it upon himself to add his own man-made caves to the collection.
Sculptor Ra Paulette has spent 25 years diligently carving elaborate caves in the sandstone. They’re filled with pictures and designs, all intricately planned and executed.
Paulette says his reason for working so long on the projects is twofold.
First, he wants to inspire people with an experience of natural beauty and manmade art united. Secondly, he feels in wonder at the wild beauty of the desert. That wonder manifests as art, which Paulette simply can’t get enough of.
“I see this as an environmental project,” he says. “I’m trying to open up people’s feelings.”
There might be a natural feel to his designs, but they’re far from sloppy or unplanned.
He puts an enormous amount of thought into playing with space and negative space, drawing the eye to different focal points and contrasting feelings of intimacy and openness.
“It has a lot to do with the juxtaposition of opposites,” says Paulette. “The sense of being underground with light streaming in. The intimacy of being in a cave, yet the columns end up very large, sometimes 30, 40 feet high.”
His passion project has definitely not gone unnoticed.
In fact, most of his cave designs are commissions from locals who just can’t get enough and want one of his beautiful cave spaces for their very own.
Some of Paulette’s designs include furniture, wooden floors, and even electricity. One commission also includes a colorfully-tiled bathroom complete with running water. So, suffice it to say, some of the simplicity of the caves has become more elaborate under Paulette’s touch.
Amazingly, Paulette has zero formal training in design, architecture, or sculpture.
He simply developed his skill by following his passion. The result is breathtaking.
Even though Paulette spends years on these elaborate designs, he’s adamant that he won’t charge an exorbitant amount for his work. One “apartment” took him a full two years to complete. But he only charged $12 an hour.
“You don’t do this for the money,” says Paulette. “You’re not getting rich off of making these beautiful places. No, it’s the process. You know, I’m having the time of my life.”
For him, the joy is in the creation.
Once the project is complete, Paulette gives it over to others, moving on to his next “source of wonder.”
But in spite of the commissions, Paulette’s work wasn’t widely known until he was discovered by a documentary maker. The resulting documentary, “Cavedigger,” took three years to film and was nominated for an Academy Award.
After the documentary was released, Paulette’s work grew in demand.
And then, two of his caves, along with the surrounding acreage, went on sale for almost a million dollars. It was a radical change for the humble stone carver.
But Paulette wasn’t going to be getting the money. Ever focused, he was concentrating on his next project, which, for the first time, involved painting as well as sculpting. Paulette referred to it as his magnum opus. This larger cave was intended to be a gathering place and retreat location where people could experience the one thing Paulette hoped to communicate with his work: peace.
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