Pia Schachter
Heavy Metal Momma

Pia Schachter is known by many as Death Metal's Den Mother. I first met her while photographing Scandinavia's notorious sailor band, Turbonegro at a dirty basement club in downtown Boston. We quickly hit it off and a week later I was at her apartment drinking coffee engaged in art speak.

Pia is a 43 year-old single mom who wears Neurosis t-shirts complete with combat boots and black mini skirts. She has been documenting the dark underworld of death metal subculture for the past 5 years with a Pentax K1000. Her passion for extreme music and photographing those involved has created a portfolio of stunning images. Together they articulate a unique beauty traditionally unassociated with such an abrasive movement.

In Her Words
 

"What drew me to the Death Metal family was their ability to articulate what pained them. The music is so deafening that it can actually shut off the loudest of inner and environmental burdens. I found myself more and more drawn to the music and to these people, but mostly to my own questions about the human need to belong and my search of what it means to be a mother."

Credits
 

Photographs
Pia Schachter

Pia has exhibited with Jack Pierson, shown at the Contemporary Arts Museum in Houston and lectured at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, MA. She is represented by Allston Skirt Gallery (www.allstonskirt.com) and loves long hair on men. At present she is seeking people with the power to hand over grants to her or thousands and thousands of dollars. Pia lives and works in Boston.

Introduction
Leonard R. Greco

Portrait photograph
of Pia Schachter
Leonard R. Greco

For further viewing of
Pia Schachter's work
visit: www.piapix.com
[External website,
leaving Velle]