Eilandarts

Where history and creativity fl ow freely

BY KATHY CHANG

Step into Eilandarts Center and just feel those creative juices flowing.

Owners Nicole Eiland, a visual artist, and her husband Matt Eiland, a musician, along with their two children, are residents in the town where ‘everybody knows everybody’.

The Eiland’s aim is for people to come explore ‘all art forms’ and ‘creative expressions’ when they visit the arts center, which is located on the second floor of The Station building in historic Merchantville.

With more than 3,000 square feet, Eilandarts Center features a naturally lit gallery space, three dedicated music rooms and a fullystocked arts and crafts center which includes sewing machines, bookbinding supplies and ceramics supplies. Classes are offered year-round to all ages in a wide variety of subjects, such as music, art, yoga, writing, languages and photography, according to its website.

“I was really interested in having a space where people can be creative, “ Nicole said. “I like to teach creativity, which is very different from teaching just the craft of drawing. I really think creativity helps people to grow in anything, not just arts.”

Creativity brings balance, she said, adding ‘it’s like a muscle you have to train’.

The Eilands moved the center to the Merchantville location seven and a half years ago after its original opening 12 years ago, in a smaller space.

Nicole said she fell in love with the building which exudes historical charm.

“It’s just beautiful,” she said, adding she ‘loves the light’ that filters into the building. “It used to be an office building and ‘historically’ it used to be a train station.”

A sign outside of the building provides information on the Merchantville train station courtesy of a grant from the Camden County Board of Freeholders, now the Board of County Commissioners.

“The opening of the Camden & Burlington County Railroad in 1867 spurred a wave of development in Merchantville. The railroad provided passenger and freight service between Moorestown and Camden with con-

please see EILANDARTS, page 5

Photos courtesy of Jamie Long Nicole and Mat Eiland of Eilandarts Center.

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nections, via ferry, to Philadelphia,” the sign reads. “The former Merchantville train station, located at 10 East Chestnut Avenue, is a significant historic landmark in the downtown, serving as a reminder of the transportation mode that transformed Merchantville from a summer resort for affluent Philadelphia residents into a year-round commuter suburb in the late 19th century. “The last passenger train went through on Friday, April 25, 1969. Freight trains continued for a few more years. As the remaining tracks were removed, in April 1990, the trail of history was bid farewell,” according to the sign.

Currently, a walking trail runs where the tracks once were.

The two-story building is listed on the National and New Jersey Registers of Historic Places as part of the Cattell Historic District.

When the Eilands purchased the building, they took down walls to open up the space on the second floor for the arts center.

The center is in the midst of its current show: “Unearthly, Dreamy – it’s spooky time.”

“The ‘Unearthly’ show is one specifically for Merchantville because in October we turn Merchantville into Monsterville, it’s this big thing,” Nicole said.

Twenty-five artists are participating in the juried art show, which range from professional full-time artists to first time artists.

“These are all local artists,” she said. “When we opened, we were surprised how many artists live in this town [also including] performers, musicians and writers.”

Before the pandemic, Eilandarts was hopping with book signings, poetry nights, concerts and pop-up dinners.

Now they are aiming to get back to those events and more.

“I think it’s nice to have all these different events,” Nicole said, which helps expose various art forms to the public.

In May, Nicole organizes a one-night art walk. This coming spring will be the fifth art walk, which pairs different artists with businesses.

“You can just walk through the whole town, meet new businesses and view new art,” she said.

To learn more about Eilandarts Center visit eilandarts.com. It is located on the second floor at 10 East Chestnut Avenue.  EILANDARTS continued from page 4

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