Art thrown into music mix at Shinnecock

Escape to New York will offer concertgoers an artful diversion next month.

The three-day music festival on the Shinnecock Reservation in Southampton will feature installation art curated by Mark Winkel and Kevin Balktick, an up-and-coming pair of Brooklyn-based event producers.

"Surreal art and performance are a key part of Escape to New York's vision, and we're thrilled to be presenting larger-than-life imaginary experiences to the citizens of Escape to New York," Winkel and Balktick said in a joint statement.

One of the installations, ANIMUS Arts Collective's "The Octapolis," is designed to bring people together. The piece is made up of 50 interlocking cells that can be climbed, drawn on, painted on or lounged in, giving would-be artists a chance to socialize.

Another, Kate Raudenbush's "Braindrop," offers festivalgoers a chance to get away from the party and meditate in a 17-foot-tall, 10-foot-wide steel sculpture that honors water and its relation to balance.

"I can't wait to see the art in action at the festival," said Fred Fellowes, executive producer of Escape to New York. "It's wonderful to be able to tap into such a groundswell of amazing talents."

-- Adam Wagner

Tickets for Escape to New York -- which will feature sets by Patti Smith, The Psychedelic Furs, Of Montreal and more -- are available at escape2ny.com.