ABANA Chapter Liaison Letter
July 2001
Get ready for the 2002 ABANA Conference!
Less than a year away-June 5-9, 2002, La Crosse, Wisconsin.
HERE ARE SOME OF THE HIGHLITES OF THE CONFERENCE

• FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD
  
  • A team of up to twelve blacksmiths from Europe will continuously demonstrate throughout the conference. You will hear more about this event in future Chapter Liaison Letters.
  • You will be pleased to know that Angelo Bartolucci from Italy will again be with us for the 2002 Conference. Those of you who attended the 2000 ABANA Conference will remember this delightful and skilled gentleman.
  • You won't want to miss this one! From Japan you will see a carpenter plane maker, chisel maker, saw maker, swordsmith, high relief chaser and a knife maker all demonstrating in the traditional manner.

• FROM CLOSER TO HOME
  • Tom Latane will head up a team of Pete Renzetti, Carl Close, Tina Chisena, Paul Spaulding and Kevin Clancy. You remember their wonderful Gothic sculpture from the 2000 ABANA Conference. Just wait and see their classical master clock at this conference!
  • The Colonial Williamsburg blacksmiths lead by Peter Ross are again back with us demonstrating colonial era gunsmithing and blacksmithing.
  • Ric Dunkerly is lined up to demonstrate mosaic Damascus knife making.
  • Steve Schwarter will show us how to make powder mosaic Damascus.

• AN EXTRA ATTRACTION
  • The New York State Designer Blacksmiths are sponsoring a Ring Project much like the ring projects from the 1994 and 1996 ABANA Conferences. I highly recommend that you get involved in this excellent project. Those of us who participated in the past found it to be a stimulating activity for our chapters. If you need more information contact Al Butlak, 1351 Walden Ave. Buffalo, NY 14211, or butlak1@mindspring.com.

Bob Fredell, Chairman
Member Services Committee
3525-45 Ave. So.
Minneapolis, MN 55406-2927
(612) 721-2298
fredell@frostbit.com