Photographer Craig DeThomas went to Dusseldorf to visit old friends. Now, this town is not one of the touristic stops of most American travelers, but the city is rich with industry and history and is forward looking. It’s architecture is striking and changes Craig’s normal search for the quaint and historic into an eye for modern building statements.
Serendipitously, I received a press release from Dusseldorf highlighting their annual cultural fall arts festival “Altstadtherbst” (or “Old Town Autumn”). This festival has grown over the past 20 years from a small arts festival into an international forum of extraordinary and innovative circus, magic, acrobatics, dance, and theater events. It will be held this year from September 15 to October . The theme reflects the architecture of the city — “Look Back Ahead” (Blick zurück nach vorn).
The festival stages publicly accessible art performances all over the city’s historic Old Town, in the shadows of the city’s dramatic, towering and futuristic buildings. Perfomances will fill outdoor and indoor venues, such as the town’s Tower Square, churches, museums, and industrial and gallery spaces.
The festival’s motto “Look Back Ahead” reflects the 20th anniversary lineup of performances: stars from past festivals, as well as newcomers, international and local artists, classical, and avant garde performances.
If visitors cannot find a performance to their liking, there is always the opportunity to spend time in the Old Town pedestrian zone, said to be the “longest bar in the world.”
“That doesn’t sound so bad.”
For more information and tickets visit www.altstadtherbst.de or www.dticket.de.
