Barton Benes at Allan Stone Projects

Books are bound with covers of cigarettes or melted crayons, studded with nails like a fetish object or stuffed with garbage in Allan Stone Projects’ exhibition of Barton Benes’ book sculptures. This book from c. 72-74 is at the mercy of a giant safety pin, perhaps holding the book together, keeping it closed or treating it like a punk or a diapered baby? (On view in Chelsea through Feb 24th).

Barton Benes, Untitled (Book with Safety Pin), mixed media book construction, 3 x 6 x 3 inches, c. 1972-74.

Dorothy Grebenak at Allan Stone Projects

This hooked rug manhole cover by the late Dorothy Grebenak is a handmade homage to a ubiquitous sight on New York City streets. Completely at odds with its cold, hard real-world counterpart, this textile manhole cover takes Pop art in a homey direction. (At Allan Stone Projects in Chelsea through April 22nd.)

Dorothy Grebenak, Con Edison Co, 31 ½ x 31 ½ inches, wool, c 1964.