Conferences
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: 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 == References ==