ABANA 2010 Conference
June 2-5, 2010
Memphis, TN

Demonstrations, Lectures, Vendors, Gallery, Memphis BBQ, Camping and The Auction all at the Agricenter International.

Shelley Thomas added to the Demonstrator list

Shelley Thomas -- who regularly demonstrates at the Kew Bridge Steam Museum, London, UK, will round out the international demonstrator list for the conference.

You can check out her work at her web site:

On hearing this news one of our members said:

"I visited Shelly a couple years ago at her shop and admire her work. Good choice! Her work is a bit of whimsy, a bit of fun and the craftsmanship to back it up. Exactly the infusion of energy we all need now. Bravo!"

Small update to demonstrator list

MARK ASPERY (of CA) will do a demo on making tools.

GERALD BOGGS (of VA) will be busy at the teaching station.

PHIL COX (of MO) will do a session -- Power Hammers: Getting the most out of them -- including both mechanical and air hammers. He will also cover tips on checking used hammers and rebuilding them.

AMIT HAR-LEV and TSUR SADAN (of Israel) will demo as a team. Stay tuned for details.

First confirmed demonstrators for 2010 Conference

The 2010 ABANA Conference Committee is pleased to announce the first group of confirmed demonstrators. We are working behind the scenes to secure additional demonstrators to round out the conference.

JOE ANDERSON (of NC) will do one demo on forged kitchen ware and 2 sessions on sculpture

MARK ASPERY (of CA) will do tool-making demos.

GERALD BOGGS (of VA) will do a demonstration; subject TBD.

DAN BOONE (of VA) will do 2 demo sessions on dragon’s heads and his other products

DAN AND JUDY BOONE will do a round table talk and question session on how they market their wares (other panelists TBD).

PHIL COX (of MO) will do a session power hammers on getting the most out of them including both mechanical and air hammers, he will also cover tips on checking used hammers and rebuilding them

DAN NAUMAN (of WI) will demonstrate repoussé

DARRYL NELSON (of WA) will do a demonstration forging of animal heads.

STEVE PARKER (of IL) will demonstrate power hammer tools and forging; he and Phil Cox will do separate demos but they will compliment each other

TOM LATANE (of WI) will lead the “Meticulous Metalsmiths” forging a lock during the conference.

MARK ASPERY will run the “Green Coal” teaching station, with DARRYL NELSON and GERALD BOGGS helping him.

We are working on getting AMIT HAR-LEV and TSUR SADAN (of Israel) but this is not yet confirmed

See you in Memphis!

Site of Conference to be AgriCenter, Int'l Memphis

2010 Conference site selected

The ABANA Board has approved a motion selecting AgriCenter International, Memphis Tennessee, as the site for the 2010 conference. This is a change from the previously announced Mud Island location.

Lance Davis, Co-Chair for the 2010 Conference said, "We are excited to be putting on the conference at AgriCenter because this site allows us to spread out demonstration areas more, it supports a larger attendance, it supports campers and RV owners better, and provides easier parking arrangements. Most of all, by switching to AgriCenter we support our members by making the conference less expensive to attend. We plan a conference focused on blacksmithing education while not forgetting the many groups that come together to be ABANA."

The Conference will open on Wednesday, June 2 and close on Saturday, June 5 with the Auction. See you in Memphis!

New Conference Team Takes Takes Over

Rome Hutchings the ABANA President has appointed Lance Davis to the Conference Division chair position.
Lance and David Hutchison were previously appointed as 2010 Conference co-chairs.

ABANA 2010 in Memphis

Hi fellow smiths, the ABANA 2010 Conference site is Mud Island Park in Memphis Tenn. The conference dates are June 2, Wed with registration during the day and opening ceremony, thru the Auction on Sat night June 5. Check out www.mudisland.com for info on this amazing site. And for information on Memphis look at www.memphistravel.com.

We'll be posting more information as the plans gel and we nail down (!) our demonstrators