Vernon Street Studios, which opened  in 1973 and was one of the first artists' communities in the Boston  area, is housed in a historic, 19th-century brick building. Owned by the Rogers Foam Corporation, which is still in operation, and with entrances  at both 6 and 20 Vernon Street, the large, brick structure is as colorful as it is teeming with creativity. It is home to more than 100 artists. With 94 large, airy studios and an old-fashioned wooden  staircase that creaks with each step, the center has been participating in Somerville Open Studios every May since 1974.