Editor’s note: This is the fifth in a series focusing on the artists of the Suring area in honor of Suring’s centennial celebration.
Mae Adams considers rosemaling her favorite artistic endeavor. Korrin Moede, a former librarian at the Suring Area Public Library, displayed some of her rosemaling at the library. After seeing Moede’s work, Adams expressed an interest in learning the art, and Moede obliged her by meeting with her weekly for a year, teaching her the techniques of the art.
The rosemaling patterns are chosen from pattern books, then mathematically adjusted to the item to be rosemaled. Objects that Adams has worked on are bowls, trays, jewelry boxes, sets of plaques, a menorah, foot stools, and wooden decorative and seasonal items made by her husband, Ted.
As a high school student, Adams learned to knit and crochet in classes after school taught by Bette Brown, Suring High School’s home economics teacher. As with women of that time, Adam’s mother, Emma Firgens, was proficient in knitting, crocheting and tatting, a craft that is today almost lost to the past.
Adams and her mother were not the only talented artists in the family. Adams’ sister, Ruby Firgens Gipp, was a talented painter. Not wanting to compete with her sister’s work, Adams did not begin painting until 1987, after her sister died.
Along with Mavis Suring, Mae Kruppa and Nancy Stuart, Adams attended oil painting classes at Lakewood taught by Ron Murray through Northeast Wisconsin Technical College. The subjects of her paintings include landscapes, farm settings, flowers, birds and various animals. In addition to oil painting, Adams also enjoys painting in watercolor.
Adams also does scratch art, in which cardboard is coated with impermeable white clay and covered by a layer of ink that is scratched or scraped in patterns to reveal a white or multicolored surface below.
Many of Adams’ art projects are displayed in her home. She has sold some of her works, but also gives them to friends and family. Her artwork in all its forms can be viewed at the Oconto County Fair, earning blue ribbons and best of show awards.
She said the camaraderie of meeting with her artist friends in the fall and winter gives her inspiration, encouragement and the willingness to think outside the box and spread her wings.
Her tip to artists of all ages is, “Try it, you might like it.”
