By Mia Lamar

Somerville artists opened their studios once again this year for the Somerville Open Studios, an annual citywide showcase of artists that celebrated its 10th anniversary last weekend.

Formed 10 years ago as a non-profit organization dedicated to "broadening public exposure" to Somerville’s dense artistic community, the first Somerville Open Studios showed less than 100 artists. Ten years later, that number has more than tripled, and visitors tour personal studios, gallery centers and local businesses to view art of all mediums. Open studios stretched from Teele Square to the Brickbottom Artists buildings on Fitchburg Street. Everywhere in between, orange balloons twirled in the wind, marking homes with an open door and open studio.

"It is a good excuse to clean the studio," said Sarah Davitt, showing her Haptotrope collection of handmade yarns and scarves at her home on Highland Avenue.

Nancy Fulton, one of the founding artists of Somerville Open Studios, has had her hand in the annual event since its start. She directed SOS in its second year, and has served on the Board of Directors in the nine years since. This year, Fulton took a break from official duties, and showing photography for the first time, debuted a series of striking color shots entitled "Wind and Sails."

Around the corner from Fulton’s open porch studio, Gizela Thomas peered out her front door at approaching visitors. Thomas, just finishing the fifth grade, is a first-time participant in SOS, showing more than a dozen "art projects" she and her mother, Consuela Perez, have created together.

"She does the drawings, I embellish them," said Perez, pointing to more than a dozen hanging paintings and drawings. One, a large painted mermaid adorned with glass and shiny beads, shimmers in the front hallway. Another drawing shows a young woman on a farm, beads in her hair and cut-out pigs at her feet. Perez says Gizela drew the picture after listening to her mother’s stories of growing up in Peru.

She also says she plans to keep the artwork displayed throughout her home. Rather than "some other artist " on the wall, "I’d prefer to have my daughter," said Perez.

Rain poured steadily throughout the weekend, and many artists shared concerns of  the weather  affecting visitor turnout. For many artists, SOS is a good opportunity to show off new work, while, hopefully, making a few sales. Speaking Sunday evening, Carolyn Marsden, a graphic designer, said she was "pleasantly surprised" at weekend turnout, despite the miserable conditions.

"I was afraid, but it turned out good," said Marsden.

Nick Shectman, this year’s coordinator of SOS and husband of participating artist Rachel Mello, said that  with "more artists, and more sites, there was less distance," for walking visitors, an aspect of this year’s program that, said Shectman, "mitigated" stymieing  effects of the persistent rain.

On Willow Avenue, Peter Stickney stood outside the studio of painter Greg Yantz, carefully tucking away a new oil painting just bought from the artist. Stickney said he originally planned to tour studios with friends, but the rain changed plans.

Still, Stickney said hr would be making a few stops to studios open along the walk back to his home on Highland Avenue.

"Mother’s Day is coming up," he said.