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.
Upcoming Conference
The next conference will be in Johnstown, PA in 2024. Subscribe to our emails and follow us on social media for future announcements about the upcoming conference.
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
Demo by Victor and Guilio Biondi at the 1980 Conference in Santa Cruz, CA.
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.