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All the United States New Mexico Ra Paulette's Hand-Carved Caves

Ra Paulette's Hand-Carved Caves

One man has carved a number of natural New Mexico caves into psychedelic sandstone temples.

New Mexico

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Joshua Foer
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Ra Paulette’s Hand-Carved Caves   racavedigger.com
Ra Paulette’s Hand-Carved Caves   racavedigger.com
Ra Paulette’s Hand-Carved Caves   racavedigger.com
Ra Paulette’s Hand-Carved Caves   racavedigger.com
Ra Paulette’s Hand-Carved Caves   racavedigger.com
Ra Paulette’s Hand-Carved Caves   racavedigger.com
Ra Paulette’s Hand-Carved Caves   racavedigger.com
Ra Paulette’s Hand-Carved Caves   racavedigger.com
Cave of hearts   maiasphoto / Atlas Obscura User
Windows of the Earth   gypsyrose11 / Atlas Obscura User
Hear Chamber   gypsyrose11 / Atlas Obscura User
Windows of the Earth - public tour with reservation   jillyedelman / Atlas Obscura User
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About

For over 25 years, New Mexico artist Ra Paulette has been creating natural crevasses in the New Mexico wilderness and painstakingly chiseling, digging, and carving intricate underground wonderlands.

In 14 different caves in the desert just north of Santa Fe, Paulette has created an underground fantasy world using nothing but the power of his own hands. Sometimes using preexisting crevasses and sometimes simply tunneling into the soft sandstone cliffs, the artist creates singular subterranean spaces to which he ascribes a sort of spiritual power.

No two of Paulette's caves are alike, some featuring undersized doors or skylights that let the sun in, while others include benches carved right into the wall or deep niches for flickering candles. The walls of the caves are also decorated with carved designs ranging from flowers to abstract suns to purely emotive design flourishes; all look as though they formed naturally because they are etched into the cave walls themselves.

Paulette considers his creations more of a hobby or public service than a money-making venture and generally just leaves the caves to be discovered by others when he is finished. He hopes that those that come after him can discover some peace or epiphany in his chambers. Paulette finds his joy in creating things, not necessarily the things' finished states.

Related Tags

Caves Sculptures Outsider Art Outsider Architecture Ecosystems

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Most of the caves now sit on private property, and because of past issues with trespassers, the owners have closed the caves to the public. 

Community Contributors

Added By

Josh

Edited By

Rachel, amandawatson, Greg Jones, jillyedelman...

  • Rachel
  • amandawatson
  • Greg Jones
  • jillyedelman
  • CorpseLady84
  • EricGrundhauser
  • gypsyrose11
  • maiasphoto

Published

May 18, 2013

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Sources
  • http://www.visualnews.com/2013/12/03/stunning-hand-carved-cave-cathedrals-ra-paulette/
  • http://newmexicospiritualland.com/
  • http://www.odditycentral.com/pics/meet-the-man-who-artistically-carves-entire-caves-by-hand-with-a-pickaxe.html
  • http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/12/12/new-mexico-s-amazing-man-made-caves.html
  • http://io9.com/sculptor-transforms-new-mexican-caves-into-mythical-cat-1470746520
  • http://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-cave-digger-hewing-art-from-the-very-landscape/
  • http://originnewmexico.com/sandstone-art-caves-origin-new-mexico/
Ra Paulette's Hand-Carved Caves
New Mexico
United States

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New Mexico

United States

Places 179
Stories 21

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of New Mexico

New Mexico

United States

Places 179
Stories 21

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