By the 1970s and 1980s, Rivers became obsessed with the portability of newly accessible video cameras. He used them to record his life, his family, and his contemporaries with jarring honesty. The Anatomy of 'Growing' (1981)
The subject, , was a pivotal figure in the art world—a musician turned painter who is often cited as the "Godfather" of Pop Art and a precursor to Neo-Dadaism.
What makes this review-worthy isn't just the art, but the personality.
This query appears to be looking for a way to watch or download the 1981 documentary which features the influential American artist Larry Rivers . --- Documentary Growing 1981 Larry Rivers LINK Download
University libraries with robust art history departments frequently provide access to streaming databases (such as Artstor or specialized university archives) that hold educational licenses for rare documentaries. To help point you toward the right archive, let me know:
Due to the age of the documentary, finding it requires seeking out specialized archives or art film distributors. Here are some ways to look for "Growing":
Check the Archives of American Art at the Smithsonian, which often archives films documenting artists' lives. By the 1970s and 1980s, Rivers became obsessed
Here is an interesting review and breakdown of why this content is trending and what makes it compelling viewing.
The documentary’s working title was simply “--- Documentary Growing” —the three hyphens likely a placeholder for a missing word (“Art,” “Sculpture,” “Process”), though some sources suggest Rivers deliberately left it ambiguous to imply incompleteness.
Edited into a 45-minute film intended for an exhibition in 1981 What makes this review-worthy isn't just the art,
To understand "Growing," one must first understand the turbulent world of Larry Rivers. Born Yitzroch Loiza Grossberg in the Bronx, he emerged as a central figure in the New York art scene, uniquely bridging the gap between Abstract Expressionism and the burgeoning Pop Art movement. He was celebrated for his loose, figurative style and his willingness to incorporate narrative into the non-objective art world.
Rivers seemed genuinely convinced that he was making "art." In his autobiography and in voice-overs for the film, he acknowledged the confusion and discomfort of his family but justified his actions by stating that art required breaking taboos.
Check with university film archives specializing in American art. Explore online archival film repositories.
One of his daughters, Emma Rivers Tamburlini, publicly condemned the film as child pornography and stated that being forced to participate contributed to her developing severe eating disorders. NYU's Reaction: Following the public outcry and Emma's demands, NYU returned the films