Though it might give you flashbacks to the days you sat around squishing clay through your Play-Doh extruder, Laurel Lukaszewski’s new show at Project 4 is anything but childish. Titled Kuroi Shiroi (black/white), her installation is comprised of eighteen sculptures, most of which were assembled onsite with regard to the size and shape of the gallery, giving the exhibit a unique and spontaneous vibe. She uses black stoneware and white porcelain, and separates the sculptures by placing the black pieces on the second floor and the white on the first floor. The division of the two extremes provides a stark contrast that compliments the playfulness of these interwoven sculptures.

A jaw-dropping piece hanging by the door reaches nearly sixteen feet, far up into the open portion of the second floor. Made of white porcelain and steel wires, Shiroi (pictured) is assembled with individual strips that were twisted and curled before being kiln-fired. The pieces were then brought to the gallery where Lukaszewski spent around eight hours carefully interlocking them into this massive sculpture. Surprisingly, each curled strip is both sturdy – similar to a dinner plate – and lightweight. So while Shiroi looks painfully heavy, the nature of the pieces allows them to support much more weight than one would expect, with the help of Lukaszewski’s clever touch (and, yes, a good steel cable).