Her urns for pets earns berth at juried show

Her three-legged pet urn (right) has earned Alene Sirott-Cope of Hollis, N.H., a berth in a juried exhibition in California. Her urns and other work are at you-clay-me.com.

HIGHER PURPOSE: Artist Alene Sirott-Cope of Hollis, N.H., was eager to help when a friend asked her four years ago to make an urn for her beloved dog's ashes. As word - and demand - spread, Sirott-Cope created a line of pet urns now displayed on her website along with her bowls, plates, mirrors, wall plaques, vases, and jars.

Of the variety of designs, Sirott-Cope's three-legged pet urn was recently accepted in the Ashes to Art international juried exhibition of funerary urns, vessels, reliquaries, and personal memorial art. The exhibit will run from Sept. 26 through Nov. 30 at The Gallery at Funeria in Graton, Calif.

"It's kind of a morose subject matter that people, including myself, don't want to think too much about," said Sirott-Cope, noting that the raku method of firing the pottery in a pit (to create a unique glaze finish) seems appropriate for this particular artwork. When requested, she will also mix a pet's ashes into the clay before it is fired.

"The ashes disintegrate into the clay, which, for me, is spiritual," added Sirott-Cope, who teaches in the graphic design department at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell.

In recent years, Sirott-Cope has made pet urns for two of her own dogs. In fact, following the death last January of her Old English sheepdog named Bumble Bear, Sirott-Cope was also inspired to create a line of custom raku pottery dog and cat bowls in a variety of colors and whimsical designs. Ten percent of all bowl sales are donated to Emergency Animal Rescue Service, which shelters animals displaced by natural disasters and other crises in the United States and Canada.

"I try to create my work so that it serves a purpose, other than being just a pretty piece to set on the mantel," she said. For more information, visit you-clay-me.com.

BENEFIT CONCERT: In touring the United States and Europe throughout a 30-year career, Kerry Elkin of New Bedford earned a reputation as a premier dance fiddler. Since being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in January 2007, however, he has been forced to lay down his fiddle.

Fellow musician Bob Childs of Cambridge, a violin and viola maker who crafted Elkin's instrument, is joining more than a dozen other musicians from the group Childsplay next weekend to perform a benefit concert for Elkin. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to multiple sclerosis research.

While Childsplay's string section performs different styles of fiddle music, each member uses an instrument created by Childs.

"What made him stand out is his intensity and energetic, distinctive sound. His inability to play anymore is a tragic loss," said Childs, noting that Elkin has performed with Childsplay for more than 20 years. Although Elkin is best known for his music, Childs said he also farmed cranberries, carved bird decoys, and intended to start a vegetable farm on Martha's Vineyard before he became ill.

"The concert will be a celebration of Kerry's life, as well as his contributions to the music community," said Childs, noting that Elkin will be in attendance. "We just want to give him our support and show him how much he means to us."

The benefit concert is Friday, at 7:30 p.m. at the Scout House, 74 Walden St. in Concord. Tickets cost $10 at the door. For more information, call Childs at 617-354-1673 or visit kerryelkin.com.

SEX EDUCATION FOR TEENS, PARENTS: Registered nurse Anh Lewin of Westford is aware that sex education is a difficult subject for teenagers and parents alike. With a grant from Fallon Community Health Plan, she and her colleagues at Pediatrics West in Concord are offering a series of free workshops to facilitate conversation.

According to Lewin, Pediatric West's Smart Sex program grew out of the realization that modern media and social influences leave parents and schools ill prepared to educate teens about real-world sexual and interpersonal relationships.

The Pediatrics West team of Lewin, Dr. Joan Eagan of Concord, certified pediatric nurse practitioner Jessica Hennessey of Westwood, and nurse practitioner Jayne Laurin of Pepperell authored the Smart Sex proposal, which was recognized with a $5,000 grant. The workshops are presented by Lewin and Pediatrics West registered nurse Gail Giffen of Townsend in collaboration with the Parent Education Program of Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts.

"There is not one talk or 'the' talk. The conversations should start young and continue throughout your child's life," Lewin said. "This way, the lines of communication are always open between parent and child."

"Let's Be Honest" is designed for parents and other caregivers of children in middle school and older. The workshops will be held at the J.V. Fletcher Library in Westford and at the Pepperell Community Center. Teenagers are invited to attend two-day evening workshops. To register, call 978-433-7856.