Strap Dress has side zips and falls above knees. Slip on this sleek style with your highest heels and a studded clutch to exude sultry femininity.

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What: Original Orifice 

When: March 20, 8pm-2am

Where: Ambassador Bar

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 More on Smitten by Anya here 

The first WOMAD took place in England in 1982 and has now spread to over 20 festival sites around the world – with New Zealand’s first  incarnation of the festival taking place in 2003. In 2010, we will be enjoying the sixth outing of WOMAD at the Bowl of Brooklands in New Plymouth. This year features a staggering 250 artists from 19 countries over the three days of the festival.

Musically, this year is particularly exciting for the astounding range of talented performers appearing. Heading the line up is the world renown Ethiopiques, featuring Ethopian Mahmoud Ahmed together with a 10-piece band. Film auteur Jim Jarmusch first brought Ahmed’s smooth grooves to the world on his soundtrack for the ‘Broken Flowers’ soundtrack. And now Ahmed will bring his band, and particular brand of music to our shores.

Another big name making an appearance is Eliades Ochoa from Cuba, star of the Buena Vista Social Club (you know the movie… If you don’t, look in your parents music collection. The soundtrack will definitely be there).

Of particular excitement to a Sideroom.com generation is the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble. Featuring all eight (EIGHT!) sons of legendary Sun Ra jazz musician Phil Cohran, these horn playing brothers have teamed up with vocalist Mariem Hassan, to bring a truly hypnotic fusion of music.

Coming back for the first time since their awesome, sell out Studio show in 2008, are eclectic – and prolific – American band Calexico. Anyone familiar with the Alt-Country movement of the last 10 years will definitely be familiar with the sounds of Calexico through such albums as Feast of Wire and Carried to Dust. The low-fi band explore all manner of country sound and are amazing live.

If this meagre teaser and the promise of seven stages is not enough to tickle your considerable fancy, WOMAD also features a strong visual arts component, live workshops and cooking demonstrations throughout the weekend.

The particular visual arts draw card for 2010 is the highly regarded Chinese multi-media artist Mu Yu Ming. Hailing from Kuhming, China, Mu Yu’s visit to WOMAD is part of his four month New Zealand residency which will include projects in Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington.

Specialising in portraiture and interactive public art projects, Mu Yu has exhibited in France, the Netherlands, Italy, Denmark, the United States, Singapore, China and Hong Kong and his 20-day interactive public art project has been undertaken in China, Norway and France.

Also featuring in the visual arts programme at WOMAD 2010 is Wellington artist Ashley Turner’s ever-changing light installation Reflective Community. This interactive totem uses reflective materials and and is part of Ashley’s series of totems and light-based installations.

WOMAD runs next weekend from March 12 – 14. See www.womad.co.nz for full details.

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 What: Sharing Space

When: March 19th 2010, 6pm – 10pm

Where: Qubic Store

More on Eric Orr online here

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Dr Melissa Westbrook, PhD

 Jeff Roland creates bold, colourful pieces which reflect a constant desire to explore the human psyche. Born in 1969, he has sold works to collectors in France, the UK, the USA, Norway, Canada and Italy. His paintings have recently been exhibited at La Cour des Grands (Metz, 2009), Chateau Corbin (Liverdun, 2009), the Centre des Arts Pablo Picasso (Blenod les PAM, 2009) and the Brick Lane Gallery (London,2010).

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More on Jeff Roland here

Cut Collective and architectural graduate Jasper Middleton have combined forces to create a dramatic installation built and displayed for the Splore Festival at Tapapakanga Regional Park south of Auckland.

When Cut Collective artist Regan Vause (Peepshow) sought to push the envelope of stencil art application for the festival’s arts trail, he envisaged an installation of a suitable scale befitting the event and its stunning location.

“For Cut Collective, Splore is a perfect chance for us to push our own boundaries and take the opportunity to work with artists from different disciplines. In this case, working with Jasper, we are creating a painted architectural sculpture. This is something we have wanted to explore for a while now”

Jasper Middleton, a graduate architect working at award-winning practice Fearon Hay Architects, said the team wished to “create something that dually capitalised on the beautiful coastal setting of the festival location, as well as the fun, vibrant atmosphere on offer.

“We also wanted to provide something that took sculpture into the realm of the user, and provided a truly engaging experience that blurred the line between art and architecture.”

The resulting sculpture is a dramatic form that simultaneously functions as painting, sculpture, and building that will shelter its occupants and audience while creating a sense of intrigue for passers-by. “The geometry is deliberately difficult to comprehend from a distance, as the structure has varying degrees of visual permeability from each side it is viewed,” Middleton says.

The faceted, and interlocking surfaces of the pavilion create a sculpture that appears to be a site-specific work wedged into its environs. However, whilst complex in appearance, the structure has been deftly designed to fit together from a single component shape in order to minimise construction costs and ease the process of relocation.

Vause says “We have managed to produce an innovative work that can be packed down and shipped to a new site for further display, complete with a newly painted surface if need be. The flat panels present a canvas that can be approached however the occasion or site may require.”

This exciting blend of architectural design and art installation will be on display during the Splore outdoor music and art festival.

 Speaking of the Splore 2010 programme, O’Neill said “In response to the unique challenges of the Splore environment, this year’s eclectic line up of talented artists have pushed the boundaries of art and technology, to produce an interactive art adventure, that will open your mind, warp your senses and enlighten your imagination. Expect retro, future, giant, neon, steam-punk, cycle-powered, nude, time travelling, pop art, multimedia, experimental, interactive, FUN.

 It may sound utopian, a place where music, art and nature merge to inspire a weekend of joyous celebration but Splore is rapidly becoming known as one of the most energetic and inspirational multi-media contemporary arts events in the country. Amongst this year’s artists are acclaimed interdisciplinary artists; Christian Nicholson and Brydee Rood, painters; Liam Moore and Tracey Tawhiao, sculptors; Chris Hargreaves and Stuart Forsyth, multimedia artists; Naomi Lamb, Nikki Hastings-McFall, and sound artist; Fraser Bruce.

 Splore 2010 will also mark the return of Cut Collective to the festival. The group is made up of six like-minded individuals with varied personal histories in art making, who worked spontaneously and informally together over a number of years, before forming Cut Collective. In 2008, their festival work featured a number of large scale interactive 3-d puzzles that received a positive response from festival goers.

 This time round, Cut Collective have teamed up with architect Jasper Middleton, and employed optical trickery, to push the idea of painted sculpture even further. Collective member, Regan Vause says, “For Cut Collective, Splore is a perfect chance for us to push our own boundaries and take the opportunity to work with artists from different disciplines. In this case, working with Jasper, we are creating a painted architectural sculpture. This is something we have wanted to explore for a while now, and Splore is the exact excuse we needed to make something happen.”

 Another Splore artist, Martin Horspool creates robots from disused household objects, collected from kerb sides, car boots, markets, scrap yards, antique shops and auction houses. Over the last two years, he has built and exhibited over 70 ‘RETROBOTS’ of all shapes and sizes, but this year at Splore, he has had to up-size his robot ideas for his largest robot ever.

Combining visual arts and live performance, with community interaction and environmental consciousness, means Splore isn’t as much a festival as a life experience, says Splore founder and director Amanda Wright. “We have 8000 people from all over the country and globe flock to Tapapakanga Regional Park. It really is an idyllic spot for this type of event, just 70km south east of Auckland, on the Hauraki Gulf, where 200 year old trees, entwine with interactive art installations. The awesome location creates this relaxed environment you can immerse yourself in for a few days with your friends, in amongst great music, performance and art.”

What: Splore 2010 

When: February 19th – 21st

Where: Tapapakanga, 70km south east of Auckland.

More info online here