[Click on the image to the left of the Crafts Report to view a recent article appearing in the October 2005 issue.]

Ralph Prata Resides in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York. In 1978, he began creating sculptural concrete carvings.

His search for a versatile permanent material to work with led him to concrete. Formulating his own mixture of sand, aggregates and cements, he creates his own concrete blocks. These solid blocks, made any desired size or shape, are directly hand-carved by Prata. His limited edition works are both carved and casted individually.

The symbols and designs in his carvings are inspired by music. Each piece is created and channeled through a spontaneous and improvisational process. During the moments of creating, various sounds, vibrations and lyrics from different musical compositions guide him on a visual journey—working from the subconscious and unknown, seemingly ancient images of both the past and present are unlocked and revealed throughout his work. All images are original in design.

"My carvings do not necessarily document particular life ways nor tell stories. Rather, they are to touch the spirit and imagination, allowing us the freedom to find our own visions."