Macramé Seashell Bracelet (Incomplete)
Haiden Vollebregt, 2019
Cotton sting and seashell
Dimensions Variable
Personal collection
Originating in Central America, friendship bracelets first appeared in North America in the 1970s. Combining weaving and knotting, the design is a form of macramé, which is a textile-making practice that is knot-based. Most popular in the Victorian era, the macramé technique experienced a resurgence in the 1970s, especially found in the creation of wall hangings and other decor items, fashion, and jewelry. According to tradition, giving these bracelets is a symbolic gesture of friendship; the expectation is that the recipient will wear the bracelet until it breaks and falls off naturally, to honour the hard work and love that went into creating it.
This particular macramé seashell bracelet was never completed. Created by myself this past summer while on holiday in Bermuda, my novice technique ensured this piece would remain unfinished. This artifact acts as a physical reminder of the quality time spent with loved ones who live far away. A Bermudian friend taught me the braid and provided me with the materials; without her guidance, I may never have acquired this new skill or crafted this braid to treasure when I returned to Canada.
When faced with an ever-changing future, it is comforting to remember that the unknown is more manageable to encounter with friends. This piece, though simple in design and of little material value, has an emotional meaning that has deepened during these times, when spending days with friends is impossible, and travelling to faraway places irresponsible. Emotionally invested in this object is a beautiful day, that keeps the comforting feeling of friendship within reach, when we must keep our distance.
As an avid traveller, I have endeavoured to visit somewhere I have never been once a year; Bermuda was my destination this year, leading to the acquisition of the bracelet. Travel inspires people to embrace the unknown rather than fear what they might not understand. Amid a global pandemic, this artifact may serve as a reminder to continue to keep an open mind even when the future appears uncertain. As citizens around the world isolate and find shelter in their homes, movement across the globe has become severely restricted on every level, between countries, communities and even houses. Under these circumstances, travel memorabilia assumes an even greater significance, allowing us to reconnect with positive memories preserved from the past in collected objects. As writer Teresa Lamsam has noted, humans instinctively collect souvenirs, not only to have a material embodiment of the memory but as physical evidence of our journeys.
Haiden Vollebregt