Meet Ra Paulette: A Cavedigger

Thursday, Aug 27, 2020, 6:12 pm
By:James Fraser


Meet Ra Paulette, a man who dedicated his life in creating beautiful sculptures inside mountain caves. He is an American cave sculptor based in New Mexico. He isolated himself from the world for the past 25 years or so, only to carve and create artistic spaces into hillsides and inside sandstone buttes. Check some of the images of his splendid artwork, and get to know how he turns nature into art.
7.Why He Create Caves?

In one of the interviews, he said he enjoys physical labor. He came to New Mexico as a laborer, and soon become every employer's favorite man because of his dedication and commitment towards work. He once created a cabin on top of a hill. It took two years for him to complete that. He liked the outside view of the cabin, but from inside it's not the best. That was the time when he developed strong interest towards creating caves, and started working on cave art.


Why He Create Caves?-Meet Ra Paulette: A Cavedigger

8.A Little About His Early Life

Ra Paulette was born in 1946. He was brought up in Indiana. He is older child of his family. He has two younger brothers and one sister. The family moved to many places when he was a kid. He continued changing places even when he became an elder guy. He lived in many parts of US before settling in New Mexico. He says he is the black sheep of his family!


A Little About His Early Life-Meet Ra Paulette: A Cavedigger


9.He Enjoys Manual Labor

He says manual labor is the foundation of his expression. When digging and excavating the caves he breaks down all the movements into their simplest parts and reassembles them into the most efficient patterns and strategies that will accomplish the task while maintaining bodily ease.  He said, "To do it well, to do it beautifully, is a "whole-person" activity, engaging mental and emotional strengths as well as physical strength."


He Enjoys Manual Labor-Meet Ra Paulette: A Cavedigger

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