Sufjan Stevens, driven by his love of America, has announced that he will make a music/film piece about one of the least loved American landmarks — the Brooklyn Queens Expressway.
Though his plans to make a concept album for each of the fifty states continue (after completing Michigan and Illinois, a mere 48 remain), these days Stevens is focusing on The BQE, an aptly titled project.
Finished in 1964, the Brooklyn Queens Expressway is the result of an urban planning project developed by the controversial planner Robert Moses. It is known for its high traffic volume and hard-to-find entrances and exits.
The BQE will combine old and new music written by Stevens and will be shot on 16mm film. According to a statement issued by Stevens, the BQE “discovers abstract patterns and stories in the snaking traffic, stunning city views, potholed pavement, billboards, and badly marked exits…revealing what happens when Manifest Destiny converges with urban blight.”
Commissioned by the Brooklyn Academy of Music, The BQE will premiere at BAM’s Next Wave Festival November 1-3. The festival, which runs from October 2 to December 16, combines performances, humanities events, literature, film, and visual art.