By Laura Michell
Chantal Wynter will be taking audiences on a guided tour of Sunshine’s industrial past as part her Fringe Westside Show Sweet Sunshine.
What’s your connection to Brimbank?
I was introduced to Sunshine through a friend who grew up, lived and worked in Sunshine. Her family owned a furniture manufacturing business which eventually closed. I am attracted to Sunshine as it’s a lot like Footscray, where I live. There are great places to eat and shop. It’s relaxed and has an eclectic community. There are similarities between Sunshine and Footscray with First Nation Peoples unceded land, colonisation, prolific industry, working and unionised classes, and waves of migration that all influence the western suburbs.
What, if anything would you like to change?
I think there are a lot of developers that see Sunshine as a future hub which is a great thing. Coming from Footscray where development has been accelerated, I would be asking developers to contribute to Sunshine infrastructure such as social housing, public amenities and social services. I would like to see developers in Sunshine contribute to existing and future communities on an ongoing basis. Other than that, I wouldn’t change a thing (except for parking).
Tell us about your shoSweet Sunshine…
Sweet Sunshine is a free, one-hour guided walk exploring the industrial past of Sunshine through women and migration. Audiences will experience performance, projection, spoken word and soundscapes. Myself and two other artists Genevieve Butler and Anna Kiparis will be creatively responding to Sunshine industry which is rapidly disappearing. Industry has had geographic and social effects on Sunshine. Women and migration are the untold stories of industry that are rarely heard. I researched and compiled women’s stories about working in Sunshine with help from Sunshine Historical Society and Melbourne’s Living Museum of the West. Although these stories are now “historical”, the topics are still contemporary for women of all ages and backgrounds. I hope that this show provides audiences a unique lens to interpret the rich industrial history and cultural diversity of Sunshine.
Is this your first Fringe Westside show?
It is my first Sunshine Fringe Westside show. I’ve produced other shows Fringe Westside in Footscray. I’m pretty excited to do my first show in Sunshine and hope to do more.
How long have you been producing?
I’ve been producing events and shows for over seven years. My role as a producer is to conceive the concept, engage the artists and deliver the event to a public audience. I often work in site-specific locations and draw on local history to produce the show. My interest is engaging with locals and providing a platform for artists to respond to a place.
Where is your favourite local place to spend time?
Hard question as there are so many great places. It’s pretty unique to be able to eat in a different restaurant seven days a week with it’s own cuisine from a different country. The markets are amazing too. The Sunshine library is great with its resources and views over Sunshine.
Sweet Sunshine is on September 21 and 28 starting at the Sunshine Art Spaces Gallery, 2 City Place, at 6pm.
Details: melbournefringe.com.au/event/sweet-sunshine
