PHOTO/EVELYN DOW

Quilting’s focus on community and expression has kept Jean Bertschmann involved with the art form for 40 years. “[Quilts] are often a community vehicle,” she said. “They’ve been used to raise awareness, to raise money [and] to protest.” A Marathon Quilters Guild member, she helped develop and lead the creation of Go the Distance, a collaborative quilt project between the eight Boston Marathon communities. It will be displayed at the New England Quilt Museum later this year. “What I really enjoy the most is providing some kind of a tactile experience for other people,” Bertschmann said of the commemorative quilts she makes.

The Arts Residency, sponsored by realtor Alan Connell, is a regular Hopkinton Independent feature. Every other week, Hopkinton Independent staff selects an individual to highlight following consultation with leaders in the local arts community.