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All the United States Massachusetts Somerville Sapphire City House
AO Edited

Sapphire City House

A home decorated by its owner with eye-catching and captivating assemblages of found objects

Somerville, Massachusetts

Added By
Eric Haines
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Sapphire City and Dance Party   erichaines / Atlas Obscura User
Sapphire City and Dance Party   erichaines / Atlas Obscura User
Beware the crocodile in Emerald City   erichaines / Atlas Obscura User
Ruby City   erichaines / Atlas Obscura User
Emerald City   erichaines / Atlas Obscura User
Teapot Graveyard   erichaines / Atlas Obscura User
Emerald City   erichaines / Atlas Obscura User
Horsing around  
Peeping from the bushes!  
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
Over the garage too!  
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  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
Hanging around!  
Tiny Museum on site!  
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About

Located on a main street in Somerville, this property is decorated with a huge, colorful variety of found objects. The blue bottle assemblage out front is "Sapphire City" and the animal collection on the roof "Dance Party." Also in front is "The Friend Smithsonian Museum," a "tiny museum" exhibit space for local artists.

While much of the art is viewable from the sidewalks at any time, between 11 a.m. and dusk you can enter the path by the right side of the house and visit "Emerald City," along with other collections there, such as the "Teapot Graveyard" and "Babies on Horseback."

The artist, Martha Friend, has lived in Somerville over 40 years. Originally a professional photographer, later earning an MSW, she has always had an interest in assemblage art and collage. Aside from her other artwork, Martha has added installations to her house and grounds for over a decade. She notes she has "a huge basement studio filled with a gorgeous collection of rusty farm implements, sea shells, driftwood, vintage ceramics, old dolls, broken lamps, costume jewelry, religious statues, plastic dinosaurs, printed ephemera, and a million other treasures."

If you visit during the yearly Somerville Open Studios in April and May then you can also tour the inside of the house, which is just as visually rich and engaging.

Related Tags

Artists Sculptures Museums Houses

Know Before You Go

The house is located at Highland Avenue and Sycamore St, between Central St and School St. You'll know it when you see it. The nearest square is Union Square, a 15-minute walk away.

Community Contributors

Added By

erichaines

Edited By

Collector of Experiences, harleysportster883

  • Collector of Experiences
  • harleysportster883

Published

July 13, 2022

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  • https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/08/18/arts/youve-heard-tiny-houses-heres-tiny-museum-artist-martha-friends-yard/
  • https://www.thesomervilletimes.com/archives/93191
Sapphire City House
135 Highland Ave
Somerville, Massachusetts, 02143
United States
42.388059, -71.101582
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Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Somerville

Somerville

Massachusetts

Places 12
Stories 1

Nearby Places

Somerville Round House

Somerville, Massachusetts

miles away

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miles away

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miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Somerville

Somerville

Massachusetts

Places 12
Stories 1

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