If you are searching for this specifically under the name "Growing 1981," it is likely a truncated filename used on torrent or file-sharing sites.
Before discussing the download, one must understand the subject. Larry Rivers (1923–2002) was a quintessential figure of the New York School. He is often mislabeled as a "Pop Artist" alongside Warhol and Lichtenstein, but Rivers was something rarer: a bridge between Abstract Expressionism and Realism.
By 1981, Rivers was not just an artist but a celebrity. The art market was booming, and the public was hungry for the "dirt" behind the canvases. It was the perfect moment for a documentary that promised to "grow" before your eyes.
Summary
Background on Larry Rivers
About the film
Reception & significance
Availability and "Download" considerations
Research and verification steps (recommended)
Conclusion (definitive findings)
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The keyword "Documentary Growing 1981 Larry Rivers Download" refers to a highly controversial video project titled Growing, created by the American artist Larry Rivers. Completed in 1981, the film is an intimate—and many argue exploitative—chronicle of his two daughters as they aged from childhood through puberty. The Context of Growing (1981)
From 1976 to 1981, Larry Rivers used a video camera to record his daughters, Emma and Gwynne, at six-month intervals. The project, which he ultimately edited into a 45-minute film in 1981, focused on the physical changes in their bodies.
The Concept: Rivers intended the work to be a "biological documentary," recording the irreversible progression of existence.
The Content: The footage includes scenes where Rivers instructs his daughters to remove their clothes so he can film their developing bodies, often asking invasive questions about their physical growth and social lives.
The Controversy: One daughter, Gwynne Tamburlini, later described the experience as deeply uncomfortable, stating it contributed to her developing an eating disorder as a teenager. Legal and Ethical Battles
While Rivers originally planned to showcase Growing as part of a 1981 exhibition, the girls' mother, Clarice Rivers, intervened to stop the public screening. The film remained largely out of the public eye until a major controversy erupted in 2010.
The NYU Incident: In 2010, New York University (NYU) acquired the Larry Rivers archive. When the nature of the Growing tapes became clear, the university faced significant backlash.
Return of Materials: Following demands from Rivers' daughters, NYU eventually returned the original tapes to the family, acknowledging that the content was "problematic" and potentially harmful. Where to "Download" or Watch
Due to the private and sensitive nature of the footage, as well as the successful legal efforts by Rivers' daughters to reclaim the tapes, the 1981 documentary Growing is not legally available for public download, streaming, or purchase.
If you are interested in Rivers' legitimate cinematic and artistic contributions, you can find other documentaries and archival materials through authorized channels:
Art/New York No. 37: A documentary titled Larry Rivers: An American Master is available through educational distributors like Inner-Video and provides a comprehensive look at his career as a painter and jazz musician.
Vimeo On Demand: You can watch the documentary Larry Rivers (part of the ART/new york series) on Vimeo, which features the artist at work in his studio.
Larry Rivers Foundation: The official Larry Rivers Foundation website maintains a list of his films, including his roles in underground classics like Pull My Daisy and his documentary work in Africa.
Growing (1981) is a highly controversial, unexhibited video series created by the American Pop artist Larry Rivers
. The film consists of 45 minutes of footage documenting the physical development of his two adolescent daughters, Emma and Gwynne, over a five-year period from 1976 to 1981. Context and Production
The series was created by filming the two girls at regular intervals over several years. During the filming, the artist conducted interviews with them regarding their experiences with physical growth and the transition into puberty. Legal and Ethical Controversy
The project has been a subject of significant ethical debate concerning the boundaries between experimental art and the privacy of children. Family Opposition:
While the artist intended to include a 45-minute version of the footage in a 1981 exhibition, the girls' mother intervened to prevent its public release. Subject Perspectives:
Emma, one of the daughters featured in the footage, has since spoken publicly about the distress caused by the project, describing it as an invasive experience that required long-term therapy to process. Archival History:
In 2010, after New York University (NYU) acquired the Larry Rivers archives, a dispute arose regarding the inclusion of these specific tapes. Due to concerns over the lack of consent and the sensitive nature of the material, the university eventually returned the footage to the Larry Rivers Foundation. Availability and Downloads
Because of the legal disputes and the lack of consent from the subjects, the film is not available
for download or streaming on any legitimate media platforms. Restricted Status:
The material remains unexhibited and restricted by the Larry Rivers Foundation at the request of the family to protect their privacy. Digital Safety:
Users should be cautious of third-party websites claiming to offer downloads of this material, as such links are often unreliable and may contain malware.
For a broader understanding of the artist's career and more widely accepted works, the documentary Larry Rivers: Public and Private (1992)
offers a more conventional look at his artistic contributions.
Are there questions regarding the legal principles of privacy and consent in the context of artistic archives? Documentary Growing 1981 Larry Rivers Download - Facebook Documentary Growing 1981 Larry Rivers Download
The search for a documentary specifically titled " " (1981) featuring Larry Rivers did not return a definitive result under that exact title. However, Larry Rivers was a significant subject of several art documentaries, and his 1981 period is well-documented.
The most prominent documentary work associated with him during this time is his participation in video art and self-chronicling. Rivers was known for pioneering the use of video to document his own life and social circle, leading to several "video-diaries" and art films. Notable Documentaries & Film Work
Larry Rivers Online (Vimeo): Rivers is featured in a series of art documentaries, including those inspired by his Dutch Masters paintings.
Legacy Series: Rivers participated in recorded discussions, such as with Arnold Weinstein, detailing his life in the 1960s and 70s as a central figure in the New York art scene.
Growing Up (Concept): While "Growing" might be a misremembered title, Rivers' work often focused on his family and "growing" children, most famously in his controversial "documentary" footage of his daughters, which was later explored in the film "Larry Rivers: Public and Private" (1992). Where to Find & Watch
If you are looking for video content of Rivers from the early 80s:
Vimeo On Demand: You can watch Larry Rivers' art-focused documentaries through their legacy collection.
YouTube: The Larry Rivers Foundation often uploads archival footage from the "Legacy Series".
Archives of American Art: For a "long review" or deep dive into his personal history, the Smithsonian Archives of American Art holds extensive oral history interviews that provide a narrative similar to a documentary review. Long Review Summary: Larry Rivers in 1981
By 1981, Larry Rivers was transitioning from the "bad boy" of Pop Art into an elder statesman of the New York school.
Style: His work at this time, such as the Dutch Masters series, blended his signature "smudged" draftsmanship with historical motifs.
Public Persona: He was frequently criticized and celebrated for his raw, often uncomfortable honesty regarding his family and personal life—a theme that likely would have been the core of any documentary titled "Growing."
Are you perhaps thinking of a specific film that featured his children, or LEGACY SERIES | Larry Rivers with Arnold Weinstein
The documentary you are looking for is titled (1981), and it centers on the influential American artist Larry Rivers
as he documents his relationship with his aging mother, Bertha "Birdie" Burger. Media Burn Archive The Story of "Momart"
The film is a raw, experimental documentary that blurs the lines between life and art. The Subject
: Larry Rivers explores his complex family dynamics by focusing on his mother. Visual Style
: True to Rivers' multidisciplinary approach, the video is a blend of intimate home-video-style footage and professional artistic discourse. It features Rivers discussing how he uses his mother as a frequent subject in his artworks (paintings and sketches). The Narrative
: It captures "Birdie" in her later years, often in candid, unvarnished moments. Rivers uses the camera to "draw" her, much like he would with charcoal, investigating the themes of aging, mortality, and the artist’s gaze on their own family. Media Burn Archive Where to Watch/Download This documentary is preserved as part of the Media Burn Archive , a non-profit repository of independent video. Media Burn Archive Online Viewing : You can stream the video directly on the Media Burn Momart page
: While a direct public download button is often not available for archival preservation reasons, the site typically offers options to "Save to List" or contact them for educational use. Media Burn Archive Larry Rivers' artwork featuring his mother, or perhaps a list of other documentaries about New York School artists?
The Artistic Journey of Larry Rivers: A Documentary Growing in 1981
Larry Rivers, a prominent figure in the American art scene, has been a subject of interest for many art enthusiasts and historians. In 1981, a documentary titled "Larry Rivers" was released, showcasing the artist's life, work, and creative process. The documentary, directed by Jack O'Brien, provides an in-depth look at Rivers' career, from his early days as a jazz musician to his rise as a renowned painter and sculptor.
Early Life and Career
Born on May 8, 1923, in New York City, Larry Rivers grew up in a family of Russian Jewish immigrants. He began his artistic journey as a jazz saxophonist, performing with notable musicians such as Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie. However, Rivers soon became disillusioned with the music scene and turned to painting, citing the influence of artists like Willem de Kooning and Jackson Pollock.
The Documentary: A Growing Artist
The 1981 documentary "Larry Rivers" captures the artist's growth and development during a pivotal moment in his career. The film follows Rivers as he works on several projects, including his iconic painting "The United States" (1960), a large-scale work that critiques American culture and politics. Through interviews with Rivers himself, as well as art historians and critics, the documentary offers a unique perspective on the artist's creative process and inspirations.
Key Works and Collaborations
The documentary highlights several key works and collaborations in Rivers' career. One notable example is his collaboration with writer Jack Kerouac on the painting "The Subway" (1958), which showcases Rivers' experimentation with abstract expressionism. The film also features Rivers' work on "History" (1964), a series of paintings that explore American history and culture.
Influence and Legacy
Larry Rivers' influence on the art world extends far beyond his own work. He was a key figure in the development of the New York School, a group of artists and writers who challenged traditional notions of art and literature. The documentary "Larry Rivers" demonstrates the artist's impact on subsequent generations of artists, including the likes of Robert Rauschenberg and Jasper Johns.
The Significance of 1981
The release of the documentary in 1981 marked a significant moment in Rivers' career. At this time, the artist was already an established figure in the art world, having exhibited his work internationally and received numerous accolades. The documentary served as a testament to Rivers' enduring influence and creativity, offering a fresh perspective on his life and work.
Download and Watch: Accessing the Documentary
For those interested in watching "Larry Rivers" (1981), several options are available. The documentary can be downloaded or streamed through various online platforms, including Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, and Vimeo. Additionally, art enthusiasts can purchase a DVD copy of the documentary or access it through public libraries and archives.
Conclusion
The documentary "Larry Rivers" (1981) offers a unique glimpse into the life and career of a pioneering American artist. Through its exploration of Rivers' creative process, key works, and collaborations, the film provides a comprehensive understanding of the artist's significance and influence. As a testament to Rivers' enduring legacy, the documentary remains a valuable resource for art historians, enthusiasts, and anyone interested in the development of modern American art.
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By providing a comprehensive overview of the documentary "Larry Rivers" (1981), this article aims to serve as a valuable resource for those interested in the life and work of this influential American artist.
Introduction
"Growing" is a 1981 documentary film directed by Larry Rivers, an American artist and filmmaker. The film explores the artist's personal journey as he grows his own food and interacts with the natural world. The documentary is a thought-provoking and visually stunning exploration of the human relationship with nature, sustainability, and the artist's place within the world.
Background on Larry Rivers
Larry Rivers (1925-2001) was an American artist, filmmaker, and writer. He was a prominent figure in the New York City art scene, known for his work in painting, sculpture, and filmmaking. Rivers' artistic style often blended elements of Abstract Expressionism, Pop Art, and realism. He was fascinated by the intersection of art and everyday life, which is reflected in his documentary work.
Synopsis of "Growing" (1981)
"Growing" is a 45-minute documentary film that follows Larry Rivers as he attempts to grow his own food on a plot of land in the Hudson Valley, New York. The film chronicles Rivers' experiences with gardening, from preparing the soil to harvesting his crops. Along the way, he reflects on the challenges and rewards of working with nature, and explores themes such as sustainability, self-sufficiency, and the human relationship with the environment.
Key Themes and Motifs
Visual Style and Cinematography
The documentary features a lyrical and introspective visual style, characterized by:
Legacy and Influence
"Growing" has been recognized as a pioneering work in the field of documentary filmmaking, influencing a generation of artists and filmmakers who explore themes of sustainability, environmentalism, and the human relationship with nature. The film has also been celebrated for its innovative storytelling, visual style, and poetic reflection.
Availability and Download
The documentary "Growing" (1981) by Larry Rivers is available for streaming and download on various online platforms, including:
Conclusion
"Growing" (1981) by Larry Rivers is a thought-provoking and visually stunning documentary that explores themes of sustainability, self-sufficiency, and the human relationship with nature. Through its lyrical and introspective visual style, the film offers a poetic reflection on the artist's place in the world, and the value of manual labor in a world dominated by technology. As a pioneering work in the field of documentary filmmaking, "Growing" continues to inspire artists, filmmakers, and environmentalists to this day.
There is no legal or authorized way to download the 1981 film by Larry Rivers.
The film is not available on any streaming platform, DVD, or legal digital storefront due to severe ethical and legal concerns surrounding its content. 🔍 Background on the Film
The Content: Between 1976 and 1981, American Pop artist Larry Rivers used video equipment to record his two adolescent daughters, Emma and Gwynne, at six-month intervals. He filmed them naked or topless while asking them invasive questions about their developing bodies and physical puberty.
The Intended Release: In 1981, Rivers edited this footage into a 45-minute film titled Growing, which he intended to publicly display at an art exhibition.
The Cancellation: The girls' mother intervened and stopped the exhibition. The film was subsequently shelved and remained largely unseen for decades. ⚖️ The Modern Controversy
The existence of Growing became a massive public scandal in 2010 when the Larry Rivers Foundation attempted to sell the artist's complete physical archives to New York University (NYU).
Family Objections: Rivers’ younger daughter, Emma Tamburlini, fiercely objected to the inclusion of the tapes. She publicly condemned the footage as child pornography and stated that the non-consensual filming severely damaged her mental health and contributed to teenage anorexia.
Institutional Refusal: Following the public outcry and the family's pushback, New York University officially refused to accept the Growing tapes or any related raw footage as part of their archive acquisition. ⚠️ Warning Regarding "Download" Links
Because this film is strictly withheld from public viewing by the family and the estate, any website or forum claiming to offer a "direct download" or stream of the 1981 film Growing is highly suspect. Clicking on such links carries extreme risks:
Malware and Scams: Sites claiming to host illicit or "banned" media frequently use these titles as clickbait to distribute computer viruses, trojans, or phishing scams.
Legal Violations: Attempting to distribute or download non-consensual imagery involving minors constitutes a severe breach of international child protection laws.
If you are researching the intersection of ethics and art or looking into the life of Larry Rivers, you can view the Marlborough Gallery records or look at the broader discussion surrounding his legacy via the Larry Rivers Foundation. Documentary Growing 1981 Larry Rivers Download - Facebook
UbuWeb is a legendary archive of avant-garde film. While they focus on out-of-print materials, Growing occasionally appears on their film page.
You cannot download Growing. Not because the file is corrupted, not because the seeders have vanished, but because the film you are searching for may never have existed in the form you imagine. And yet, its absence is more instructive than its presence would be.
Larry Rivers in 1981 was a man out of time. A decade past his celebrated collaborations with Frank O’Hara, a generation removed from the abstract expressionists he’d rebelled against, Rivers was deep into what critics called his "second career": making films, staging performances, and documenting the messy, often uncomfortable act of making art. The early 80s were the twilight of analog authenticity—the last moment before the art world became a fully mediated spectacle of JPGs and press releases. To film an artist in 1981 was still an act of witness, not just promotion.
If Growing existed, what would it show? The title suggests several layers:
1. Growing as a painter.
Rivers worked in series—The History of Matzoh, The Boston Massacre, Dutch Masters. In 1981, he was obsessed with scale and speed. He painted with one hand while smoking with the other, jazz on the radio, charcoal dust floating like ash. A documentary would catch him revising a canvas for the hundredth time, muttering, "It’s still not vulgar enough." Growth for Rivers was not refinement but accumulation—layering, erasing, overpainting until the image breathed with a kind of elegant ugliness.
2. Growing as a public body.
By 1981, Rivers was 58, but he played the part of the eternal adolescent: saxophone gigs in lofts, affairs with younger artists, a famous disregard for silence. A documentary titled Growing would have to confront the paradox of a man who refused to mature yet insisted on being taken seriously. The camera would catch the strain: the tremor in his hand after a night of drinking, the way he looked at his own early masterpieces (like Washington Crossing the Delaware) with a mixture of pride and disgust. Growing older, for Rivers, meant learning to fail in new ways. If you are searching for this specifically under
3. Growing as a metaphor for the 1980s art boom.
The year 1981 saw Jean-Michel Basquiat’s first public show, Julian Schnabel’s plate paintings, the rise of Neo-Expressionism. Rivers, the original pop artist before Pop Art had a name, was being pushed aside. A documentary made then would be a eulogy dressed as a biography. "Growing" would be ironic: the art world was growing faster, louder, richer, and Rivers was growing irrelevant. But the film would show him refusing irrelevance—working harder, cruder, more personally.
Why you cannot find it.
Perhaps Growing was a student film, a single 16mm reel shown once at the Collective for Living Cinema on White Street, then lost. Perhaps Rivers himself suppressed it—he was vain but also fiercely honest, and seeing himself on film may have revealed too much. Or perhaps the title is a misremembered fragment: a composite of Rivers’s actual film The Central Park Sheiks (1983) and a lost documentary called Larry Rivers: A Late Style that aired once on WNET.
In the pre-digital era, most art documentaries never made it to VHS, let alone the web. They existed as magnetic dust, projected on a wall for twenty people, then returned to their cans. To search for Growing is to search for the feeling of that era: the humidity of a downtown loft, the smell of turpentine and cigarettes, the whir of a Bolex camera—a texture that cannot be ripped, compressed, or torrented.
What you are really looking for.
You don’t need a file. You need permission to sit inside an artist’s uncertainty. Rivers was a master of the unfinished—his paintings often had raw canvas showing, his poems broke mid-line, his films jumped the gate. He understood that growth is not a documentary arc with a beginning, middle, and end. It is a series of false starts, abandoned gestures, and moments of accidental grace.
So do this instead: find a single image of Larry Rivers from 1981—maybe the photo of him in his Canal Street studio, leaning against a 12-foot canvas of The History of the Russian Revolution. Look at his hands. Look at the clutter. Then close your eyes. That flicker behind your lids is Growing. It has been downloading since the moment you first asked.
If you are genuinely seeking a real documentary related to Larry Rivers from that period, the closest existing works are:
None are titled "Growing." The deep piece above honors the search itself.
The search for the "Documentary Growing 1981 Larry Rivers Download" is a test of dedication. This is not a blockbuster; it is a raw, uncomfortable, and brilliant time capsule of a narcissistic genius wrestling with middle age.
Final Recommendation: Do not waste time on broken torrent links. Contact Electronic Arts Intermix (EAI) for a digital rental. If you cannot afford the fee, check your local university library’s Kanopy or AVON (Academic Video Online) database. The film exists. It is not lost—it is merely hiding.
For those who successfully download Growing, you will be rewarded not with a polished biography, but with the feeling of sitting in a smoky loft in SoHo in 1981, watching an artist bleed color onto a canvas.
Note to the reader: If you find a working public download link, please update the comments section of this article. The hunt continues.
Meta Description: Looking for the rare Documentary Growing 1981 Larry Rivers Download? This guide covers the film’s history, legal download sources, archive access, and alternatives for this lost art film.
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The 1981 documentary by artist Larry Rivers is a highly controversial 45-minute film that has been at the center of a long-standing legal and ethical debate. Due to its sensitive nature, it is not available for public download and is restricted from public viewing. Documentary Overview
Production: Rivers filmed his two daughters, Emma and Gwynne, at six-month intervals from 1976 to 1981, starting when they were roughly 11 years old.
Content: The film features the girls naked or topless as Rivers asks them questions about their developing bodies and sexuality.
Intended Use: Rivers originally edited the footage into a 45-minute film intended for a 1981 exhibition, but the screening was stopped by his wife, Clarice Rivers.
Controversy: One of the daughters, Emma Rivers Tamburlini, has publicly condemned the film as child pornography and stated that the filming contributed to her developing an eating disorder. Current Status and Availability The film is strictly controlled and generally inaccessible:
Public Access: There is no official or legal platform to watch or download Growing.
Institutional Status: In 2010, New York University (NYU) refused to include the film as part of the Larry Rivers archive they purchased, citing its problematic content.
Legal Restrictions: The Larry Rivers Foundation currently holds the materials but agreed to keep them private during the daughters' lifetimes. Related Official Content
While Growing is unavailable, you can find other documentary content about Larry Rivers' life and broader artistic legacy on official platforms: N.Y.U. Doesn't Want Film of Larry Rivers's Naked Daughters
No authorized online download exists for the 1981 documentary
by Larry Rivers. Any website or link claiming to offer a digital download of this specific film is likely a deceptive phishing scam, malware distributor, or an unauthorized file-sharing hub.
The film remains heavily restricted due to severe ethical violations, lack of consent, and ongoing legal boundaries set by the artist's family to protect his children. 🚫 The Ethics and Erasure of Larry Rivers’s Growing
Art history is frequently forced to grapple with the uncomfortable, blurry line between raw creative expression and the exploitation of real human beings. Few cases illustrate this dark intersection more fiercely than the legacy of American artist Larry Rivers and his suppressed 1981 documentary, Growing. The Subject of the Controversy
Larry Rivers was famously hailed as the "grandfather of Pop Art" and was a towering figure in the mid-century New York art scene. However, between 1976 and 1981, Rivers embarked on a highly personal and deeply invasive video project.
The Premise: Rivers filmed his two adolescent daughters at precise six-month intervals starting when they were roughly 11 years old.
The Content: The footage explicitly centered on their transitioning bodies as they entered puberty. The girls were instructed to pose topless or entirely naked while Rivers interrogated them with uncomfortable questions regarding their physical changes and emerging sexuality.
The Fallout: In 1981, Rivers attempted to edit and exhibit the 45-minute cut. His daughters' mother, Clarice, intervened and stopped the public exhibition, effectively locking the footage away in Rivers's private vaults. The Re-emergence and Legal Blockade
The film sat largely forgotten until 2010. Following Rivers's death in 2002, his estate attempted to sell his vast collection of personal papers and video logs to New York University (NYU).
When the contents of the Growing tapes were brought to light by media outlets like the New York Times, a massive public outcry ensued. Rivers’s younger daughter, Emma Tamburlini, publicly condemned the films, noting that the forced recordings caused severe psychological trauma and contributed to lifelong battles with eating disorders.
Facing pressure from the family and intense public scrutiny, NYU formally declined to accept the controversial tapes into their library. They were returned directly to the Larry Rivers Foundation, where strict mandates ensure that they will never be publicly digitized, distributed, or screened. Why You Cannot (and Should Not) Download It
Because the legal custody of the raw footage remains intensely monitored and blocked from public eyes, there is no legal avenue to stream or download Growing. Links floating around the internet promising full access to the film are typically fraudulent gateways used to lure users into downloading harmful software.
Ultimately, the permanent archiving of Growing serves as a sobering reminder of the boundaries of visual art. While museums and historians generally fight to preserve every frame a master artist creates, the physical and emotional safety of the human beings captured in those frames always takes precedence over public curiosity. By 1981, Rivers was not just an artist but a celebrity
New York University Returns Films of Larry Rivers's Children