Lynn Adler: And So We Moved To Petaca, on view from May 8 through June 6, 2026 at Obscura Gallery, presents a remarkable photographic record of a brief yet meaningful cultural convergence in northern New Mexico. Featuring images made by Lynn Adler between 1970 and 1974, the exhibition accompanies the release of her recent book and offers an intimate look at a rural community undergoing subtle but profound change.
Adler arrived in the small village of Petaca at a moment when its long-established Hispano population encountered an influx of newcomers seeking an alternative way of life. Rooted in traditions that stretched back generations, the local community lived with modest means, sustained by agriculture, faith, and close family ties. Into this environment came young families from urban centers such as San Francisco and New York City, drawn by the promise of self-sufficiency and a deeper connection to land and community.
Using a simple 35mm camera, Adler documented daily life with clarity and sensitivity. Her black-and-white photographs reveal scenes of labor and routine: tending animals, cultivating fields, building homes, and raising children. At the same time, her images capture moments of encounter between cultures—shared gestures, cautious interactions, and evolving relationships that reflect both curiosity and tension. Rather than imposing a narrative, Adler allows these moments to unfold naturally, creating a nuanced portrait of coexistence.
The modest scale of the prints reinforces their intimacy, encouraging close viewing and quiet reflection. Faces, gestures, and landscapes emerge with a sense of immediacy, preserving a way of life that might otherwise have faded from memory. Over time, the village has changed, and many of those pictured have passed on, giving the photographs an added resonance as documents of both presence and absence.
Curated by Bill Shapiro, the exhibition situates Adler’s work within a broader tradition of documentary photography while highlighting its singular perspective.
And So We Moved To Petaca stands as a testament to the enduring power of photography to record fragile histories and to illuminate the complexities of community, identity, and belonging.
Image:
Lynn Adler. Louella at Sundown, 1971 © Lynn Adler