ABANA’s National Conferences
The first conference, where ABANA was officially born, was in Westville, Georgia in 1973. Throughout most of ABANA’s history, there has been a national conference held in a new location every other year. The first ever Iron to Art Festival was held in Johnstown, Pennsylvania in 2021 celebrating the home office relocating to Johnstown.
2026 Conference: To Be Announced
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Previous Locations
Aislinn Lewis and Bob Valentine at the 2021 Iron to Arts Festival in Johnstown, PA.
Douglas Pryor giving a repoussé demonstration at the 2016 Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah. Photo: Doug Wilson
Shelley Thomas demonstrating at the 2010 Conference in Memphis, TN. Photo: Doug Wilson
Diminutive work seen on the nail tree at an ABANA Conference. Photo: Doug Wilson
Yoshindo Yoshihara hardening the exposed edge of a Japanese sword at night during the Seattle Conference in 2006. Photo: Morris Hallowell
1980 Conference in Santa Cruz, CA: Main demonstrator Simon Benetton, his son Toni Benetton, with brothers Steve Bondi and Michael Bondi.
Francis Whitaker demonstration at the 1978 Conference in Purchase, NY. Photo by David McGlynn
Fritz Ulrich, Bill Gichner, and Dimitri Gerakaris at the 1974 Conference in Lumpkin, Georgia.