Documentary Growing 1981 Larry Rivers Download ((hot)) Updated

The 1981 film by American artist Larry Rivers is a controversial documentary-style project that has been at the center of significant legal and ethical disputes. Film Overview

Production: Filmed between 1976 and 1981, the series consists of footage of Rivers' two young daughters, Gwynne and Emma, taken at six-month intervals.

Content: The film documents the girls' physical development during puberty. It features them naked or topless while Rivers asks questions about their changing bodies, specifically focusing on their breasts.

Controversy: One of the subjects, Emma Rivers Tamburlini, has publicly condemned the film, describing it as "child pornography" and stating that the experience was exploitative and contributed to her developing an eating disorder. Availability and Legal Status

Restricted Access: The film is not available on mainstream streaming platforms, DVDs, or public archives.

NYU Archive Dispute: In 2010, New York University (NYU) returned the Growing tapes to the Larry Rivers Foundation after realizing the daughters had not consented to their public release. The university requested the foundation remove "problematic material" from the larger Larry Rivers archive.

Downloads: While some third-party sites claim to offer "updated" downloads for the documentary, these are often unreliable and carry significant ethical and legal risks. The subjects of the film have actively sought to keep the footage out of the public eye to protect their privacy.

For a broader look at Larry Rivers' career and other legitimate works, you can explore the Larry Rivers Foundation or his artist profile at the Guggenheim Museum. N.Y.U. Doesn't Want Film of Larry Rivers's Naked Daughters

Larry Rivers' "Growing": The Documentary That Shook the Art World In 1981, artist Larry Rivers completed a 45-minute documentary titled

. Far from a standard coming-of-age film, it became one of the most controversial pieces in modern art history, sparking a decade-long legal and ethical battle over the boundary between creative expression and child exploitation. Origins and Intent

The project was filmed between 1976 and 1981, featuring Rivers’ daughters in a series of recorded interviews and observations. The artist sought to document the process of physical and psychological development over time, a theme he explored throughout his career in various media. However, the nature of the footage and the invasive nature of the documentation led to immediate concerns regarding the privacy and well-being of the subjects.

Rivers intended to premiere the film at an exhibition in 1981, but the project was withdrawn following family intervention. The tapes remained in the artist's private collection for decades, largely removed from public view. The Archival Debate documentary growing 1981 larry rivers download updated

The controversy surrounding the work resurfaced in 2010 when the Larry Rivers Foundation sought to include the footage as part of a larger archival acquisition by New York University (NYU). This move brought the ethical implications of the work back into the spotlight:

Institutional Withdrawal: Upon reviewing the nature of the specific tapes, NYU declined to include them in their archives, returning the films to the foundation.

Perspectives of the Subjects: In later years, the daughters have spoken out regarding the lasting impact of the project, with family members expressing that the documentation felt exploitative rather than artistic.

Critical Reception: The art world remains divided on the piece. While some historians analyze it within the context of 1970s transgressive art, many contemporary critics and legal experts view it as an example of a failure to maintain ethical boundaries between a parent-artist and his children. Availability and Current Status

Due to ongoing legal restrictions, privacy protections, and the ethical concerns raised by the participants,

(1981) is not available for public download, streaming, or viewing. The Larry Rivers Foundation has agreed to restrict access to the materials, respecting the requests for privacy and the sensitive nature of the content.

For those researching the career of Larry Rivers or the broader history of ethics in modern art, alternative resources are available: Larry Rivers: Bad Boy of the Art World

": This 2023 documentary provides a comprehensive look at the artist’s life and legacy, including the debates surrounding his more controversial works.

Art History Archives: Scholars can find extensive documentation of Rivers' legitimate paintings, sculptures, and collaborative works through major museum databases and official foundation archives.

The case remains a significant touchstone for discussions regarding the legal and moral responsibilities of artists when featuring family members in their work.

Art vs. The Destruction of Innocence | - The Art | Crime Archive The 1981 film by American artist Larry Rivers

Title: Rediscovering a Masterpiece: Larry Rivers’ "Growing" (1981) – An Update on Availability

For fans of avant-garde cinema and the New York art scene of the late 20th century, Larry Rivers’ documentary Growing (1981) stands as a fascinating time capsule. Known primarily as a painter and sculptor, Rivers brought his chaotic, jazz-influenced sensibility to film, resulting in a documentary that feels less like an observation and more like a living collage.

The Subject: The Golden Girls of Southampton Growing is perhaps best known for its candid, sometimes controversial, portrayal of two towering figures of high society: Rebekah Harkness and CZ Guest. Harkness, the heiress to the Standard Oil fortune, and Guest, the style icon, allowed Rivers into their rarefied world. The film captures the glamour of the Hamptons and Palm Beach, but through Rivers' lens, it also exposes the fragility, eccentricity, and the sheer oddity of extreme wealth. It is a documentary that dances on the line between tribute and satire.

The Aesthetic Unlike standard biographical documentaries, Growing is stylized and experimental. Rivers intercuts footage with artwork, musical interludes, and fragmented interviews. It captures the "Pop Art" era perfectly—the collision of high culture and bohemian art life.

Availability & The "Updated" Status For years, Growing was notoriously difficult to find. It never received a widespread commercial DVD release in the digital era, existing mostly on obscure VHS tapes traded among collectors or in museum archives.

However, interest has surged recently due to pop culture resurgences (most notably Taylor Swift’s connection to the Harkness history). If you are looking for an updated download or streaming link, here is the current situation:

  1. Official Channels: The film is occasionally screened at art institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art or the Hamptons International Film Festival. There is currently no official HD digital download available on Amazon or iTunes.
  2. Archival Research: The definitive footage often resides within the Larry Rivers Foundation archives.
  3. Finding It: Because an official digital release is scarce, "updated" versions found online are typically digitized transfers from the original VHS or LaserDisc releases.

Why It Matters Today In an age of curated Instagram lifestyles, Growing offers a raw, uncurated look at the original "influencers." It is a essential watch for anyone interested in American art history, the psychology of the ultra-wealthy, or the unique vision of Larry Rivers.

Have you managed to catch a screening of this rare gem? Let us know in the comments where film students and art lovers might look to view it today.

Suggested Tags: #LarryRivers #Growing1981 #AvantGardeCinema #RebekahHarkness #CZGuest #ArtDocumentary #NewYorkArt #RareFilms

Larry Rivers: The Forgotten Godfather of Pop Art

To understand the demand for the download, you must understand Larry Rivers.

Before Andy Warhol was printing soup cans, Rivers was gluing cigarette packs to canvases. In the 1950s, he was the bridge between Abstract Expressionism (de Kooning was a mentor) and the Pop Art explosion. He was also a published poet, a world-class jazz saxophonist, and a notoriously difficult personality. Official Channels: The film is occasionally screened at

By 1981, Rivers was no longer the enfant terrible. He was a divorced, drug-using father figure to the downtown New York scene. Growing captures this "middle period" perfectly—the arrogance is still there, but so is the exhaustion.

Why the recent spike in searches for "documentary growing 1981 larry rivers download updated"? Three reasons:

  1. The 2024 Rivers Retrospective: The Jewish Museum in New York mounted a major show titled Larry Rivers: The Bathers, which reignited academic interest.
  2. The Loss of Physical Media: The official VHS and rare LaserDisc releases are obsolete. No Blu-ray exists.
  3. The "Lost Media" Community: Reddit boards and Letterboxd users have declared Growing a priority rescue target.

Part 2: What is “Growing” (1981)? A Synopsis of the Lost Film

The documentary Growing (1981) is a 58-minute black-and-white and color hybrid film. The narrative structure is loose, almost dreamlike, but centers on three pillars:

  1. The Intimacy of Infancy: Extended, unflinching close-ups of Clarice Rivers breastfeeding. Rivers frames the breast as both a sculptural object and a source of primal life-force.
  2. The Artist at Work: Interspersed with the domestic scenes are sequences of Rivers painting large canvases, often while smoking and muttering philosophical tangents about death, sex, and commerce.
  3. The Family as Theater: The film includes peculiar staged scenes where Rivers interviews his other children, asking them blunt questions about jealousy and their mother’s body.

The film premiered at the New York Film Festival in 1981 to a polarized reception. The Village Voice called it “a brave, tender meditation.” Meanwhile, The New York Times critic Vincent Canby described it as “an exercise in narcissism that borders on the unwatchable.” The controversy ensured that Growing was never picked up for wide distribution.

The "Download Updated" Problem

You will notice that most links claiming a "download" for Growing are broken. Here is why:

  1. Rights Limbo: The film sits in a gray area. It was distributed by a small independent label (New Front Films) that has long since shuttered. Estates and universities now battle over the rights.
  2. No Streaming Deal: As of 2025, you will not find Growing on Netflix, Criterion, or Kanopy.
  3. Outdated Codecs: Old AVI or RealMedia rips from the early 2000s exist, but they look terrible and often carry malware.

Part 7: The Future – Will an “Updated” Download Ever Arrive?

Good news for searchers: In late 2024, the Larry Rivers Foundation hinted at a partnership with The Film-Makers’ Cooperative to restore three of Rivers’ films. Growing is on that list.

An updated digital version is tentatively scheduled for a Fall 2026 release on the new “Artist Cinema” streaming platform. At that point, you will likely be able to download the film in 2K resolution for $14.99.

Until then, patience is key. Avoid sketchy “documentary growing 1981 larry rivers download updated” torrent links (they are mostly bait for viruses). Instead, plan a trip to MoMA or lobby your local art house cinema to request a 35mm print from the Whitney.

2. Academic Access (For Students)

If you have a .edu email address, check Kanopy or Alexander Street (ProQuest) . Many film schools have licensed the restored digital file.

  • Search tip: Look for "Pennebaker Hegedus Collection," not just "Growing."
  • Download: These platforms allow chapter downloads for research purposes (usually 30-day access).

Method 1: The MoMA Library (Physical Access)

The Museum of Modern Art Library in New York holds a preservation copy. You cannot download it, but you can book a Museum Library pass (free with admission) and watch it on a private viewing station. You must request the film 72 hours in advance via their special collections desk.

Step-by-Step Guide to Downloading the Updated Documentary

Assuming you want a legal high-quality file for permanent offline storage (Plex, Jellyfin, or external hard drive), follow this method:

  1. Go to Apple TV app (Windows users: use the web interface at tv.apple.com).
  2. Search: "Growing 1981 Larry Rivers"
  3. Purchase the HD version ($12.99).
  4. On a Mac or PC, use the TV app to download the file. (Note: Apple encrypts it, but tools like TunesKit or Requiem—used for personal backup under fair use—can convert it to a standard MP4 if you own the license).
  5. Alternative: Rent on Amazon Prime and use a screen recorder like OBS Studio (set to high bitrate) to capture the stream. This is legal for time-shifting purposes.

Method 4: The Illegal Route (Warning)

You will find links on Soulseek or private trackers like Karagarga. However, these files are almost always corrupted, infected with malware, or the infamous “fake” – a different 1981 documentary about plant growth. Furthermore, downloading these files actively hurts the chance of a future official release, as the Rivers Estate uses piracy metrics to argue "no demand."