Made on
Tilda
Value and limitations
: Upon its debut at the ICA in London in 1981, the film sparked a major scandal. Critics and the public accused Rivers of being exploitative, and the work has since been cited in discussions regarding the ethical boundaries between art and child welfare. Availability
Unlike his contemporaries who completely abandoned narrative figuration, Rivers maintained a lifelong obsession with the human figure, history, and autobiography. His work was deliberately provocative, technically proficient, and deeply personal. He turned his camera and paintbrush toward his family, his lovers, and his own anxieties, making him a natural pioneer for the nascent medium of video diaries and experimental documentaries in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Contextualizing the 1981 Project: "Growing" Documentary Growing 1981 Larry Rivers Download
While you will not find a "Larry Rivers Growing 1981 documentary download," the story of its creation and the battle over its existence is a powerful case study in art ethics. Larry Rivers left behind a massive legacy as a painter and sculptor, but Growing ensures that his name is also permanently attached to a complicated conversation about the responsibilities an artist has to their own family and the fine, often broken, line between art and harm.
: In 1981, Rivers compiled and edited this footage into a 45-minute art film titled Growing , intending to broadcast it publicly as part of an art exhibition. The Erasure and Legal Lockdown Value and limitations : Upon its debut at
. 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
This public link is valid for 7 days and shares a thread, including any personal information you added. This link or copies made by others cannot be deleted. If you share with third parties, their policies apply. Can’t copy the link right now. Try again later. Larry Rivers left behind a massive legacy as
The film was never broadcast, distributed on physical media (VHS/DVD), or uploaded to legitimate streaming services.
The documentary is held within the Larry Rivers archive at New York University's Fales Library & Special Collections. Due to the extremely sensitive nature of the content and the ongoing ethical and legal concerns raised by the subjects—Rivers's own daughters—access is heavily restricted.
: 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
Early 1980s magnetic tape (such as U-matic, Betamax, or VHS) suffers from severe degradation over time, a phenomenon known as "sticky-shed syndrome." Much of Rivers’ video archive required extensive, costly restoration and digitization by specialized institutions, such as the Larry Rivers Foundation and university archives, before it could even be viewed digitally. 2. Intellectual Property and Estate Control