Artist Carves Dream Home From Sandstone

Artist Ra Paulette spent over two years meticulously excavating and carving a sandstone home in northern New Mexico for Liz and Shel Neymark, commencing in 1997. This project, initiated when Liz Neymark was diagnosed with advanced cancer, stands apart as a commissioned residence rather than a purely artistic space. The completed cave features include a circular dance floor that produces a drumming sound, built-in sleeping and seating platforms, and a sunken tub in the bathroom, all seamlessly integrated into the rock.

Practical amenities such as electricity and running water were installed, with Shel Neymark contributing tilework to the interior. By 2015, the Neymarks had reportedly lived in the unique home for approximately 15 years, a significant duration given Liz's initial 20% five-year survival prognosis from her 1997 diagnosis. Paulette's dedication to this project is documented in the 2013 Academy Award-nominated short documentary 'CaveDigger,' directed by Jeffrey Karoff.

Paulette's broader body of work includes other underground spaces designed as wilderness shrines, often featuring curved walls and sculpted chambers that harness natural light. However, the Neymarks' home remains one of his few excavations built specifically for daily private life, differentiating it from spaces intended for contemplation or visitation. He continued his labor-intensive work on other cave projects, including the developing 'Luminous Caves' complex, after the Neymarks' home was finished.