GOING WITH THE GRAIN
WORDS Joshua Brosnahan PHOTOS Naomi Haussmann and Jonathan Smit
From his work on Grizzly Baked Goods in The Welder to wine bar Alfred, to the surfboard outside of Saturdays café in New Brighton, Michael Gilling’s signature craft shapes various parts of our daily lives through XYLO Woodcraft. XYLO, meaning the combining of form, relating to wood.
He lives near his current workshop with wife and musician Holly Arrowsmith, on a bus that they both converted. An affinity for woodwork has always been there for Michael.
“As a kid, I was always making stuff. Dad had a little workshop in the garage, and he taught me how to use the tools. My brain is just wired for making things.”
Last May he finished up his carpentry job – he mentions how fortunate he was to have a boss who encouraged him to do so and follow his talents.
“It was pretty simple. I like to create things, so why not just put more time into that? If I invest in myself and learn, then I gain various skills. From then until now, it’s just been investing time and money in the craft and me.”
An early project of Michael’s was a wooden surfboard – quite literally made from wood he collected for free, on his travels. It was an easy start, according to him.
“With a surfboard, there’s no pressure for it to be true and square. You can sculpt it, make it ergonomic. It’s not like a stool which will wobble or look wrong. Once it was completed, I thought – this could be a thing. After that, I took a chance at crafting furniture.”
“I was already thinking of consciously putting work out there – if I wanted to do this full time, people need to see what I can do.”
Next came including his work online. His first ‘official’ job was working on wine bar Alfred – with a five-week turnaround. According to Michael, the entire transition was pretty natural, and he feels his skills have grown exponentially.
“I do look back at former work, and I can see the skills I’ve had at that time. I embrace the quirks, and I see the progress in my skill. I’ve learnt to embrace what it is at that time. I’ve learnt how wood moves, and breathes, how it changes shape, how it wears as people use it. It helps with my designs for the future. It’s freeing to move past being a perfectionist!
The things I make are going to be used, and will gain a patina over time. I present high quality workmanship, but I love seeing how pieces settle into people’s lives and take on new impressions.
“There’s a balance you need in life – you don’t want to present a bad job, but you also spend way too long fretting over minute details that overtake the work.
“Right now, I’m happy for this to grow naturally. Each job means I end up with more work, as people tell their friends. I’m developing my style and eye and myself as an artist. I have learnt to trust my design.
I can look at other people’s work and think, ‘should I be doing that?’ I have to remind myself that no, this is what I do because it’s how I see things. These are my skills. If you accept that and commit to it, you’re good to go. Then you learn along the way.”
See more of Michael and Holly’s handiwork on their bus here - if you’re interested in becoming the newest owner’s of the XYLO Woodcraft bus, send them a message.