The Artist-Blacksmith's Association of North America (ABANA) was formed in 1973 to preserve and promote blacksmithing as an art and a craft.
| Artist-Blacksmith's Association of North America | |
| Type: | 501c3 Non Profit |
| Founded Date: | 1973 |
| Location City: | Johnstown, Pennsylvania |
| Location Country: | United States of America |
| Area Served: | North America |
| Focus: | Blacksmithing |
| Method: | teaching |
| Homepage: | abana.org |
The Artist-Blacksmith's Association of North America was formed in 1973 with twenty-seven members.[1] There are now 4000 members.
ABANA publishes two magazines on a quarterly basis: The Hammer's Blow and The Anvil's Ring.[2]
ABANA holds a biennial conference to educate successive generations of blacksmiths and showcase modern and traditional blacksmithing to the general public. ABANA conferences typically have a gallery space to showcase the work of their members, educational spaces to provide hands-on demonstrations to all levels of smiths (novice to advanced), and demos by local and international demonstrators including artist-blacksmiths, farriers, bladesmiths, and toolsmiths. Each conference is held at a new location with the assistance of local ABANA affiliate blacksmith groups.
Starting in 2021, ABANA held the first Iron to Art Festival which, in part, celebrated their new home office and museum space in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.
In June 2024, ABANA will celebrate its 50th Anniversary by holding a conference in Johnstown. Also scheduled is a blacksmith competition to be held in Johnstown's Central Park.
The past locations by year are as follows:[3]
1973: Lumpkin, Georgia
1974: Lumpkin, Georgia
1975: Greenville, South Carolina
1976: Carbondale, Illinois
1978: Purchase, New York
1980: Santa Cruz, California
1982: Ripley, West Virginia
1984: De Pere, Wisconsin
1986: Flagstaff, Arizona
1988: Birmingham, Alabama
1990: Alfred, New York
1992: San Luis Obispo, California
1994: St. Louis, Missouri
1996: Alfred, New York
1998: Asheville, North Carolina
2000: Flagstaff, Arizona
2002: La Crosse, Wisconsin
2004: Richmond, Kentucky
2006: Seattle, Washington
2008: Canceled (was scheduled for New Paltz, New York)
2010: Memphis, Tennessee
2012: Rapid City, South Dakota
2014: Harrington, Delaware
2016: Salt Lake City, Utah
2018: Richmond, Virginia
2020: Canceled (was scheduled for Saratoga, New York)
2021: Iron to Art Festival, Johnstown, Pennsylvania
2022: Canceled (was scheduled for Denton, Texas)
2024: 50th Anniversary Celebration, Johnstown, Pennsylvania