Meet Carson Ferri-Grant

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Carson Ferri-Grant a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Carson, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
My optimism and ethics came from my maternal and paternal lineage, immigrants whom settling in Rhode Island and Massachusetts contributing to our Nation’s history and events as part of their bold journey. Throughout American history as proud immigrant American citizens, the Sweet and the Ferri families fought in all the American wars for the freedom of all people.

My mother Leila Natalie Sweet family lineage dates to Wales 1350, migrating through Devon, England 1450 then London by the 1600s . Reverend John Isaac Sweet, wife Mary Wescott Periam with their two sons John and James, sailed on The Winthrop Fleet 1632 as friends with Reverend Roger Williams bound for Salem, Massachusetts. Roger Williams after purchasing land from the Narragansett Indians, traveled in the winter of 1636 with 38 families including the Sweets to establish the Colony Plantation of Providence, RI founding the first Baptist church in America. Rhode Island’s charter was based on the premise of religious liberties and separation of church and state, a precursor to the US Constitution, 1st amendment in the Bill of Rights.
My great grandfather, William Russell Sweet was a sculptor and painter in Peace Dale, RI during the late 1800’s, who carved many pieces including a wood hutch cabinet titled ‘Hiawatha’ themed after Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem, originally donated to Pettaquamscutt Historical Society Museum, Kingston, RI, now housed in the Art Museum of Colonial Williamsburg.
The Sweet Family were known for their good disposition, and as natural bone setters documented in Providence Historical records as Recollections of Olden Times, Rowland Roberts 1877 p.265. The Sweet family were said to be remarkable, happy natured people in The Johnny Cakes Papers of Shepherd Tom, Tom Hazard 1915, p.230 and 334. The Sweet lineage throughout American history were soldiers in all the American wars starting in the Civil War as northerner who fought to abolish slavery. Colonel Russell Herndon Sweet was honored in 1946 with the ‘Legion of Merit’ for his brave work in the Military Intelligence Service of the War Department, during WW1 and WW2. My nephew CW3 Shawn R. Benjamin served in the Gulf and Iraq Wars as a Blackhawk pilot.

My paternal Ferri ancestry from Bari, Italy stemmed from Giovanni Agostino Ferri with two of his famous sons in music and theater history. My great grand uncle, Giovanni Agostino Ferri, under the anagram ‘Ettore Irfre’ was an Italian opera tenor, who trod the boards of major theaters of Italy, France, Spain, Russia, and USA (The Met) through the 1850-1870, receiving acclaims and honors, giving his final fatal performance singing Piccinni in 1877 at the Bari Opera House. My great grandfather, Niccolò Luigi Agostino Ferri, an Italian opera composer of ‘Luigi Rolla’ and ‘Lara’ for La Scala in Milan 1850. My grandfather, Anchise Agostino Ferri married Mary Massari (Massa-Carrara, Italy) immigrated to North America in 1896 arriving in Staten Island, then traveled to Massachusetts to purchase a farm, create a business, and raised three children.

My parents, Joseph Anchise Agostino Ferri married Leila Natalie Sweet who delivered three children. At six months old I moved with my Ferri grandparents who instilled their respect and ethics as Americans citizens and Italian Catholics, plus their love of life, land, animals, and society. My grandparents nurtured my curiosity to explore my surroundings in their garden and forest. Mushroom gathering was an exciting venture guided by my Gramma’s watchful eye selecting only the edible growths. I was enchanted by the blooming Lady Slipper’s vibrant colors rising from their fertile beds with their magical ethereal presences. By four years old I would return home to sketch my woods adventures. As if yesterday, the forest depth and the lady slippers were favorites, drawn from different perspectives.

Yes, I inherited within my DNA compassion, generosity, optimism, resilience, ethics, and artistry from proud honorable folks.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
Google offers many links in the social media platform for Carson Ferri-Grant and Carson Grant, an USA actor and artist, who has followed his artistic instincts to accomplish a lifetime of Arts, for fifty years in NYC, and now since 2019 on my California journey.

In 2023 my two oil paint series, ‘Swim’ and ‘Splash’ were exhibited in the LA Art Show with thousands of viewers. I am proud to announce the premiere exhibition of my twenty-five acrylic painting series ‘Contrived Feeder’ capturing California energy at the LA Art Show 2024 at the LA Convention Center, booth # 1345, February 14-18, 2024. The LA Art Show is a wonderful experience for all ages, and successfully represents international artists. Please stop by to say hello and share my imagery.

With my latest acrylic paint series of 16 pieces, ‘CA Cosmos’, I continue to explore my merging of Post-Modern Impressionist-Abstract style. For their premiere to the public, I have placed them in consideration for the Beverly Hills Art Show 2024.

Upon a satisfactory completion of an artwork series, I take time to appreciate their presence, reflecting of my creative journey, then releasing them to their journey into the world.

Last month finished principle shooting of my character, Albi (photo attached) a street junky with a grown daughter who tries to save him from his downward spin in ‘Second Chances’ a new twenty-episode series scheduled for late 2023 release, written and directed by Michael Caissie. In August I added my voice to Mike Pelak’s podcast ‘Top of the Hill’ as Texas Congressman Billy Spurlock. Debuting my miniature terrier Bebe JJ, I had fun roles in two short films ‘A life Well Lived’ directed by Asger Folmann, and ‘A Place for Angry People’ directed by Tate Stussy. I enjoy networking and collaborating with others to achieve mutual goals.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
My qualities of observation, analysis, and conclusion are present whether in a crowd of people or in the stillness of a twilight stargaze. Taking the moments to smell the budding flowers, to sight the beauty of the ocean waves, to appreciate the miracle of life has nurtured my artist soul and creativity. Always listening to my inner voice, then converting emotional and spiritual needs to achieve specific goals are the fundamental steppingstones in my work ethics.

Since youth, my imagination has actively captured and processed moments. I dream colorful fantastic adventures with mysterious impressions residing in my dream-awakened state which echo their way into my artwork. I am impulsive with quick sketches to capture the ideas. I methodically organize a new project deciding what media best suits the concept. I use mixed media to tell my stories in painting, sculpture, installation, photography, video, audio, written word, and film. In my mind’s eye I see the final product, and work patiently to reveal the vision.

I appreciate the small steps forward culminating in a lifetime of success. I encourage all who have a creative impulse to self-reflect, organize their thoughts, and make plans to develop their personal destiny.

Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities, or knowledge you needed to be successful?

With fifty years in New York City, I was fortunate to learn from many creatives who developed their talents exemplifying glorious achievements in the international marketplace. Thank you to all the teachers who challenged my intellect and artistic skills. A special salute to Lee Strasberg who encouraged and guided my perspective in method acting technique.

Please donate to the Red Cross collectively helping many victims in Maui, Hawaii and throughout the world. Since the seventies, I have used my artworks and installations to campaign for environmental respect and conservation, as in my one-man show Nature Nuclear predating Three Mile Island’s meltdown. Discovering my destiny combined with actualizing my energies opens endless possibilities to explore my bold California journey.

 

Website: https://www.carsongrant.com • https://www.filmpens.com • https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0335300/ • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carsongrant01 • Facebook: • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carsongrant/ •

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Rodolfo Silva Cavallaro Steven Cutler Linsley Carson Ferri-Grant

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