desert dweller , some patterns can be bought in kits, with instructions, and to the best of my knowledge the quilter buys her own fabric, cuts out the patterns and sews them together. So that's one way that people can benefit from someone else's designs. But many of the unusual quilts, such as the Van Gogh one, are creations of individuals who are pushing quilting into new realms of creativity.
Apparently some of these avant garde quilters patent their designs, as years ago I read of patent infringement when the Chinese were manufacturing some of these types of quilts. I suspect there are some interesting aspects to this, especially since quilting grew from a home art to a more professional design field.
I once read something so far out that I couldn't understand it. One quilter used some kind of heating device, something my father might have in his toolshed, to shear fabric so it adhered to another fabric. I never really did figure out how it was being done, but I certainly wouldn'y try it with something as flammable as fabric.
Jinny Beyer is one of the progressive quilters who is someone with a good sense of math and balance. Her initial kaleidoscope quilts have expanded some of the basic patterns into new dimensions:
www.bing.com/images/search?q=jinny+beyer+kaleidoscope+quilts&qpvt=Ginny+Beyer+kaleidoscope+quilts&form=IGRE&first=1&cw=1117&ch=487Some are available in kits, with fabric, so the quilter has only to follow the instructions. She seems to have good marketing savvy.
Hollis Chatelain, another trailblazer, designs quilts of Bedouins, various sections of Africa, and also has made a quilt with a powerful statement on the environment. Her quilts are based more on paint, with quilting providing the detail. Some quilting friends and I attended one of her lectures and demonstrations, but I never really could figure out how she makes her quilts.
I think she paints first, then quilts specific areas. There's a sequential moving section on her home page, reflecting some of her designs in more detail. If you look at the lines of the facial portraits, you'll see what I think are the stitched aspects.
www.hollisart.com/, and
www.hollisart.com/see-the-work Her Nature Gallery has a stunning display of her creations:
www.hollisart.com/gallery-nature-new.
This gallery shows the creation that if I'm correct won an international award for its portrayal of the worldwide, species wide need for water.
www.hollisart.com/gallery-1 The award winning quilt is sixth in the farthest left column, with the kangaroo, children and water.
Your friend Jody is taking an emotional, challenging and sad situation and highlighting it through an inoffensive method of needle arts. I've read the article several times, and really applaud her for the action that she's taken. It takes a lot of courage and compassion, not to mention time, to work on a project like hers.
What I think your friend Jody, Hollis and some others are doing is moving into and advancing the cause of needlework in politics and social awareness, and vice versa, bringing attention to specific issues. I don't know if this has ever been done before, but I think it's an excellent way to segue from quilts as warmth and remembrances to quilts raising awareness for environmental causes.
It's a new way of, in part, protesting, but also drawing awareness to political injustice, or concerns, and doing so in a way that isn't offensive. Another group that supports Veterans but isn't specifically political is the Honor Guilts group, which makes quilts for soliders.
These people are pioneers in their own rights, as are those who make Underground Railroad quilts.
Thanks for your interest. As you can guess, I'm really inspired by these pioneers in needlearts.