ABANA - Artist Blacksmith Association of America

ABANA is America's umbrella organization of artistof an idea about forming a regular association of
blacksmiths and has affiliate organizations in all partblacksmith artists was taking shape in his mind.
of America as well as associations with similarNot wanting to let in go, he started writing down
organization in other parts of the world. ABANA ishis ideas and before going to sleep in the early
a non profit organization managed by an electedhours of the morning, had the basic outline of
board of directors and today has a membershiphow the association would be structured and
of over 5000 artist blacksmiths. It provides aoperate.
range of services to its members includingThe next day, as the convention was breaking
organizing conferences, workshops and seminars,for lunch the proposal for starting an artist
educational courses and programs on blacksmithblacksmith's association was conveyed to the
art, organizing exhibitions of members' work, helpparticipants. The words of Alex Bealer, who
in locating suppliers and much more. ABANAconvened the 1973 convention and who became
members who buy from ABANA supportedthe first president of ABANA, as gave an
suppliers and entitled to a 5% discount on theextremely insipiring sppech, which can be found in
value of item bought. ABANA is an active andthe ABANA website.
progressive association and counts among itThis moving expression of the nature of the
members nearly, if not all, the major blacksmithblacksmith art was enough to immediately prompt
artists in America.20 of those present to become the founding
ABANA was born in 1973 when a Blacksmiths'members of the organization. 27 more joined
Convention was held in Georgia which wassoon after and within a year membership stood
attended by 47 delegates from all over theat over 100 and in ten years reached over 2000.
country. Late on the first night of the conference,At present the membership is increasing by over
after the day's formal proceedings had ended, a300 a year which demonstrates both the growth
group of blacksmith artists got together for anof blacksmith art and the vital role that ABANA is
informal chat and the subject turned to theplaying in supporting and developing the artist
benefits of sharing knowledge and experiencesblacksmith.
between themselves. There were about eightABANA Chapters have mushroomed in various
people in the group and for each one who gaveparts of the US and is only growing in popularity.
the others some useful hint or tip that helped theMoreover its spreading to other countries as well.
others improve their art, at least 7 useful bits ofIn fact the latest of ABANA's affliliate group is an
information were given in return. At the end ofAustralian counterpart. All informtation about the
the discussion, one of the members returned toABANA can also be found at their website online.
his room but could not get to sleep as the germ