New Mexico's Breathtakingly Beautiful Mountain Vista is Now Beautiful Within, Too, Thanks to Ra Paulette

Directed by Jeffrey Karoff and nominated for an 2014 Oscar in the Documentary Short Subject category, CaveDigger showcases the artistry and struggles of Ra Paulette, who has devoted the last 30 or so years to single-handedly digging intricate cave designs into New Mexico mountains.  

Paulette's work on the caves often comes across as a personal obsession.  Although he strives to follow a preconceived vision for each cave, he often finds that the work itself leads him in unplanned directions.  Because Paulette often felt that he should only stop digging and creating when he thought a work was complete, he was occasionally at odds with those who commissioned his work.  

What's astonishing about this story is that Paulette's creations -- which usually take years to complete -- have gone largely unnoticed and unrewarded financially.  

The 39 minutes spent viewing this short documentary will pass quickly, but those pressed for time can take Karoff's virtual tour of one of Paulette's caves titled "Tree of Human Kindness."