The Rosebud, by Heather Balchunas, 2009, acrylic on canvas, is a depiction of the iconic diner car in Davis Square. Her work has changed over the years from painting diners and blues singers to the beauty in nature.

By Harry Kane

Supporting artists has been an important part of Somerville’s diverse and creative history for a long time. For budding artists, showcasing work is validating, and growing the passion for creating impactful art can be an opening to finding a deeper meaning in life.

The 50th Anniversary of Vernon Street Open Studios is a milestone for the arts community and the City of Somerville. Visitors can expect to find a broad spectrum of fine art styles and craft media, including painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, glass works, fiber arts, jewelry, furniture and ceramics.

“When you’re supporting creativity and culture, you’re making your community stronger,” said Heather Balchunas, artist and volunteer coordinator at Vernon Street Studios.

To start the celebration, there will be a party at Bow Market on Nov. 13, from 6 to 9 p.m., with a sneak peek, teaser screening of the documentary called, A Matter of Light. The short film by Anne Continelli contains interviews from artists about the process of transforming a section of the industrial building into an artist workspace and explores how community art spaces have become cultural beacons critical to society.

The Open Studios event on December 7 and 8, from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., on both days, will include a mix of high-caliber artists and newcomers who will open their studio doors for a tour through the halls of the historic 19th-century brick building that was once the Derby Desk Factory and is now co-shared with the Rogers Foam Corporation.

Artist David Palmquist works with oils and acrylic. — Photo by Heather Balchunas

Artists at Vernon Street Studios welcome the public into their workspaces at 6 & 20 Vernon Street every Fall for Vernon Street Open Studios, and in the Spring, during the first weekend of May, as one of many participating venues in Somerville Open Studios.

When art enthusiasts arrive at Vernon Street Open Studios, there will be a map of all participating artists and artisans, Balchunas explained. “There’s a little bit of something for everybody at Vernon Street.”

Balchunas went to Massachusetts College for Art and Design and has been a member of the artist collective at Vernon Street Studios since 2008. In 2009, she created a work called, The Rosebud. The painting captures the spirit of the iconic diner car, installed in Davis Square in 1941— the same year Citizen Kane was released and the United States entered World War II.

While The Rosebud painting has already been sold, all kinds of masterpieces will be displayed at Open Studios. Folks have an opportunity to meet and greet the artists at the event and learn about their artistic process, and perhaps, purchase original artwork.

The celebration continues with a 50th Anniversary Retrospective Exhibit of Artists, Past & Present, at the Nave Gallery Opening Reception on December 3, and ending on January 9. The film, A Matter of Light, will be screened at the reception.

In the documentary, one of the founding members of Vernon Street Studios, Clara Wainwright, a fabric painter and sculptor, was interviewed. Wainwright fondly recalls how in 1973, Maud Morgan approached Jim Rogers of Rogers Foam Corporation about renting studio space at the factory building.

While Morgan decided not to use the space, she remained a very prominent and important figure in the Greater Boston area art world, Balchunas explained. In Cambridge, there is a Maud Morgan Arts Center for children, families and professional artists.

But as a result of the interaction between Morgan and Rogers, an initial group of 13 artists opened the artist studio at 20 Vernon Street and held the first Open Studios on February 24, 1974. Now, 50 years later, Vernon Street Open Studios is an established art exhibition.

“Having a space at Vernon Street has meant a great deal to me as a young artist,” said Liv Cappello, a Somerville-based printmaker and new member of the artist collective. “After working from home for many years, having a space that is dedicated to my art has been inspiring and motivating, and being surrounded by such a talented community of artists has been a wonderful experience. I feel lucky to be here!”

Along with Balchunas, the three other coordinators at Vernon Street Studios are Steven Cabral, Suzanne Lubeck and Bekka Teerlink-Wright.

“Open Studios are ways for the public to engage in a very intimate way, because they are able to see where the artist creates their work,” said Balchunas. “And in this milestone year, the Somerville community is as much a part of this celebration as the artists, because art is a shared process. We (the artists) are here because of that relationship, because it is only through this community support that art buildings such as Vernon Street Studios are able to endure and make it to our golden anniversary.”

Vernon Street Studios is located at 6 & 20 Vernon Street in Somerville. The historic 19th-century brick industrial building houses over 100 artist studios. — Photo by Heather Balchunas