Hugo and Gayne Preller’s House of Light is a photographic
odyssey that begins as we join Hugo and Gayne Preller on an adventure
down the Mississippi
River in a floating photography studio. From the moment they met,
Hugo and Gayne were kindred spirits; both yearned for adventure, and
river life offered
glimpses of the flourishing American frontier. Many people are moved
by the story of the couple’s bond and their unconventional lives as
wandering
artists, but the photographs they produced are equally compelling.
Hugo’s desire to document his surroundings and Gayne’s ability to put
her sitters
at ease combined to create a unique visual narrative. Over the
course of their lifetimes, Hugo and Gayne Preller made more than 2,400
photographs,
artworks, and artifacts. Historic Arkansas Museum is delighted to
display a portion of the Preller Collection, and to share an authentic
glimpse into
life in the Delta around the turn of the century.