Joan Iversen Goswell's book art, "Braddock," impressed Madeline Gent, executive director of the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh and one of the judges selecting artists for the history center's exhibition. Gent said Goswell's work reflected Braddock's "rough and tubmble" nature.

Art lovers can check out a Middlesex Township woman's book creations now through Sept. 13 at the Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh.

Joan Iversen Goswell's book art pieces were chosen for inclusion in the “Master Visual Artists VII: Preserving the Legacy” exhibition. The exhibition is presented in partnership with the Master Visual Artists Project — a group dedicated to recognizing the lifelong achievements of influential artists in Southwestern Pennsylvania.

Anne P. Madarasz, director of the curatorial division and chief historian for the center at 1212 Smallman St., Pittsburgh, said, “This is a collection to honor artists 60 and older for their careers of artistic achievement. They are still working and they have made an impact.”

“Joan's book art is fairly unusual, and the quality is at an exceptionally high level,” said Madarasz.

“She has six different pieces in the collection,” she said.

What makes Goswell's work unique, said Madarasz, is that she often builds something to contain her book creations.

“It's really unusual. She uses found materials. For a book on the Gulf War, she made a container out of an old Navy gas mask bag,” said Madarasz.

This is a story that appears in Sunday's Butler Eagle.