About NCABANA
What is NC ABANA?Meetings
What goes on at meetings?
How do I join?
What are the benefits of membership?
Where can we see blacksmiths at work?
What is NC ABANA?
NC ABANA is the North Carolina Affiliate of the Artist Blacksmith Association of North America, an organization of men and women who are practicing and preserving the skills of blacksmithing. The organization includes hobbyists, farriers (people who shoe horses), blade smiths (knife makers), architectural fabricators, sculptors, museum interpreters, furniture makers, and other artists and craftsmen who utilize the traditional skills of the blacksmith to create useful and beautiful objects..
Meetings
The state Chapter meetings are quarterly and are held in different locations throughout the state at member's shops or homes. Regional area meetings are held on varying schedules throughout the state. Both state and area meetings are announced in the NC ABANA newsletter "The Hot Iron Sparkle" and published on this website. For regional group meetings please contact the host to confirm date, time and location. Members may attend any of these meetings.
Regional Group Schedules and Contact Information
What goes on at meetings?
The meetings are usually a mixture of demonstrations of blacksmithing techniques, shoptalk about tools and supplies, tool swap among members, and displays of members work. An "Iron-in-the-Hat" drawing is held to raise money for the scholarship fund. Often, multiple forges are set up for beginners to try their hand and learn from the more experienced blacksmiths. Lunch is available, at chapter meetings, for a reasonable cost.
How do I join?
Joining NC ABANA is very simple. Download the NC ABANA application and brochure (PDF) and mail it in.
ORSend your name, address, phone number and $30.00 ($40.00 outside USA), make check or money order out to NCABANA, to
NC ABANA c/o J. Phillips
97 Trinity Ridge Lane
Banner Elk, NC 28604
Come to one of the state wide or regional meetings.
What are the benefits of membership?
- Members receive the Hot Iron Sparkle, quarterly. This excellent newsletter contains news of the organization, schedule and location of meetings, as well as informative articles on blacksmithing techniques, plans for neat projects: and valuable safety tips. The newsletter contains schedules of blacksmithing conferences held throughout the country, and blacksmithing classes being taught in North Carolina and elsewhere.
- Members have access to the library containing many of the most authoritative books on blacksmithing and metal sculpture. The library also has videotapes and DVDs of blacksmithing demonstrations.
- Members are eligible, after one year to apply for one of several scholarships that are given annually. Scholarships may be used at the John C. Campbell Folk School, the Penland School of Crafts, or at any other institution teaching blacksmithing.
Where can we see blacksmiths at work?
Members of NC ABANA regularly demonstrate at the Dixie Classic Fair in Winston-Salem, NC and at the North Carolina State Fair in Raleigh. Additional public events with NC ABANA blacksmiths are also listed on the home page of this website. Blacksmiths interpret the traditional craft at living history museums such as Old Salem, and Colonial Williamsburg. And of course you are welcome to visit one of our chapter or regional meetings and watch the demonstrations.
