For nearly 50 years, Ralphael Plescia has been making religious art to explore the story of creation in his private museum in Salt Lake City, Utah.
His project has one overriding vision: to tell the story of Biblical creation in the right way by restoring characters and tales lost to history. The sculptures and paintings are not within the rooms, but are a part of them. Underground tunnels have been hollowed out to make space for Hell and the Garden of Eden. Narrow pathways and bridges traverse groundwater bubbling up from below.
He believes the building has a 98% of being bulldozed when he dies, but that knowledge does not stop him from working every day to complete his life's work.
Directed by Travis Low and Torben Bernhard and produced by OHO Media, 15 Bytes and VideoWest.
The Gospel According to Ralphael is part of our 15-year anniversary edition of 15 Bytes, which comes out Wednesday, September 7. But we couldn't wait to share it.
And tune in to
RadioWest on Wednesday, September 7 at 11 am for a discussion of Ralphael's project and outsider art in Utah.
