BRENTON NEWCOMB
Special to The Leader
The Fredonia communication department is offering a special opportunity to students and community members. Diane and Bernard Block, multi-faceted artists from New York City, will be giving a performance and workshops on Friday, April 26.
Diane Block, who doubles as a musician and poet, received her bachelor’s and master’s degree in violin performance at the Manhattan School of Music before going on to become a professional classical violinist.
While attending school for violin, she soon came to appreciate and love Romantic and Modern poetry and appreciates the beautiful parallels between the two art forms.
Diane’s poetry has been featured at many of the venues in New York City and Long Island, N.Y. as well as many publishings online. Musically, she performs in the cello/violin duo, “Gemini Journey,” at venues throughout New York City and Long Island.
Bernard Block, a poet out of Brooklyn, N.Y., performs at major poetry venues in N.Y. as well as Philadelphia; Columbia, South Carolina; and Laugharne, South Wales.
A total of 38 of his poems have been published in the on-line European literary journal, Levure Littéraire, as well published in Arianna Huffington’s online journal, Thrive Global.
Together, the husband and wife duo have co-featured in N.Y., Philadelphia and Laugharne.
Professor Vincent Quatroche of the communication department explained that discussion of this event began “in the Summer of 2019 after I was featured in Bernard Blocks reading series at the Cornelius Cafe in the west village of New York City.”
“Over the years, they have been very good to me with multiple opportunities to present my work … this latest event is a continuing effort to support and sponsor in kind as an expression of gratitude,” said Quatroche.
This is not the first event of its kind Erin Provost, a public relations major involved with setting up the event, explained. An event very similar last year titled “Fredonia Verses” was also beneficial.
She said both events are an “opportunity to have an intellectual conversation with two professionals who have traveled and connected with many people.”
On Friday, April 26, Bernard and Diane Block will be in McEwen Hall 201 for the event.
Students and community members will have the chance to engage in a question and answer session starting at 2 p.m. Those who attend will be able to show the artists their own work and receive feedback.
Both artists will then perform pieces of their own work at 5 p.m.