Nonahood News: Tell us more about you and your art.
Bruce Furino: There are so many experiences that have contributed to why I create. I don’t consider myself an artist in the traditional sense. What I’ve accomplished via creativity has enabled me to explore multiple mediums. Also, my years of pursuing my BA degree at FTU and my employment at UCF, where I completed a master’s degree, contributed significantly to my creative endeavors.
I enjoy developing an idea into a piece of sculpture, a design for a new piece of furniture, a possible game, a potential toy, a design for a wooden timepiece, an information technology application and, more recently, a sci-fi story.
Being creative began in elementary school during the early ’60s. Some of my teachers were concerned I would lose track of what was being taught as I would spend time drawing my thoughts in the air. In time, I resorted to using sketch books and, eventually, a computer to capture and develop much of my work.
For the most part, being creative dictated what I wanted to pursue. The visual arts were my first passion and weren’t realized until middle school when I attended an international school in downtown Tokyo. Being immersed in a new culture enabled me to see and do things most people only read about.
NHN: Ideal medium(s)?
BF: There hasn’t been one ideal medium. I’ve investigated different art forms using multiple materials, processes and techniques. By no means am I a craftsman in any field but more of an explorer of possibilities in multiple fields.
NHN: Recent artistic accomplishments?
BF: My most recent artistic achievement is the completion and publication of a book that documents my 50+ years of creative pursuits. It was an overwhelming project to begin, exacerbating at times and exhilarating in the end.
NHN: Most rewarding project?
BF: My most rewarding project occurred during the “connecting the dots” period of my life. It involved the creation, coordination and management of the annual Internet Science and Technology Fair during my employment at UCF’s College of Engineering and Computer Science. It was the first online science fair of its kind that began in 1996. It was designed for pre-college student teams who could only use the internet to research, develop and present their final projects. It reached over 10,000 students during its 20-year run.
NHN: Who inspires your art?
BF: David Smith, the greatest American sculptors of the 20th century and one of the first to work with welded metal, had an influence on my metal sculpture work. I had an opportunity to view some of his work at the Smithsonian American Art Museum and later at the Hirshhorn Museum.
Following my retirement, I had an opportunity to read publications regarding creativity. One quote that resonates with me is by the playwright George Bernard Shaw, who said, “Some men see things as they are and say, why? I dream of things that never were and say why not.” I now realize that I spent most of my life utilizing creativity to pursue “things that never were” as the opportunities were endless.
NHN: New projects?
BF: It’s an encounter more than a project. For the past three months, I have had multiple exchanges with ChatGPT, an AI chatbot created/operated by OpenAI. I was interested in learning more about its possible impact/input in terms of some of the sci-fi short stories I had written. I was in awe of the breadth and depth of its contributions. I didn’t know what to expect, but it far exceeded any recent life experience. This was the first time I had ever had instant feedback. The suggestions provided were tailored to content, story direction and possible characters. We are in the midst of an AI revolution.
Being retired has given me time to consider what’s next in terms of my creative endeavors. I see the potential for my collaboration with ChatGPT in terms of my sci-fi stories. This has changed the creative process. I used to have free reign in terms of the scope of a particular story. Now, I realize I’ve been constrained by not realizing the possibilities.
NHN: What inspired you to create art in Lake Nona?
BF: After retiring from UCF, my wife and I moved to Lake Nona. Because we downsized from where we lived, my primary tool for the creation of new work was my computer. I worked on sci-fi short stories as I’ve always been and continue to be a “Trekkie” at heart.
NHN: Where can people find you/your art?
BG: My art can be seen in my publication “Why I Create: My Life to Date” that is available online via Amazon Kindle. Any questions or feedback may be directed to my attention at [email protected].
