My most significant artistic influence stems from songs. Well, influence comes in all directions, but I would say songs have been the most consistent presence for me and thread between my artistic practice and my personal life-hood (assuming we’re able to separate the two). And I’m not talking about music necessarily, but lyrics. And not in terms of informing specific works, but in terms of altering mood and the way in which I generally process concepts: That’s the generative headspace in which ideas emerge and come together for me. I think my brain enjoys creating chaos so perhaps there’s also a grounding effect in lyrics…It’s all so elemental: The chorus is the thesis statement/mantra and the verse is the list of supporting ideas. I believe there’s something particularly powerful about song lyrics as well (even some of the cheesy ones)–in terms of their widespread availability; how familiar they become to us as individuals and as collectives; how they are able to stand in and create words for our feelings; and in how they craft-fully mangle and distill language to get a point or a rhyme across.

– taisha paggett, April 2013 (from Solos & Solitudes: Hilary Clark, Caroline Gravel, Taisha Paggett Guest-curated by Jenn Joy and Noémie Solomon at Danspace Project, April 25-27, 2013)

taisha paggett premieres a right-angled object who lost her faith in being upright in a shared evening of work with Rebecca Davis Thursday, October 10 – Saturday, October 12 at 8pm.