(1981) is a 45-minute documentary film created by American artist that has been at the center of significant legal and ethical controversy for decades. Background and Production

Before examining the film, it's important to understand the artist behind it. Larry Rivers was a major American artist known for his pivotal role in the transition from Abstract Expressionism to Pop Art. Alongside his painting and sculpture, he was also a jazz musician and an occasional actor, embodying a multidisciplinary creative spirit.

While Rivers viewed Growing as an honest, clinical, and artistic exploration of human development, the film sparked significant controversy. Critics and viewers alike were divided over the ethical boundaries of the project.

Look for digital restorations on platforms like MUBI or Vimeo On Demand .

Best for building a loyal community of 1980s pop-culture enthusiasts. 5. Capitalize on Interactivity and Community Building

: Tamburlini sought the return and destruction of the videos, arguing that they violated her privacy and were exploitative.

"Growing" is not available for public download, streaming, or purchase on standard commercial platforms like Vimeo On Demand While snippets of Rivers's video work, such as , can sometimes be found in archives like the Media Burn Archive , the "Growing" series remains restricted by the Larry Rivers Foundation Alternative Viewings:

Larry's rise to fame in 1981 coincided with the emergence of trending content as a major force in the entertainment industry. His music videos, which were among the first to be featured on MTV, became instant hits, and his name was on everyone's lips. The media frenzy surrounding Larry's career helped to establish him as a household name and cemented his status as a trendsetter in the entertainment industry.

Fales Library, which had acquired Rivers's archive, returned the "Growing" films to the Larry Rivers Foundation following the controversy. Where to Watch or "Download"

Emma fought to have the footage returned to her for destruction, arguing it is child pornography. In the 2010s, her campaign gained public attention after a detailed Vanity Fair investigation by Michael Shnayerson titled "Crimes of the Art," which brought the story to a wider audience.

In 1981, Rivers edited this extensive footage into a 45-minute film. He titled it and planned to show it as part of an art exhibition. By this time, the girls' mother, Clarice, intervened and stopped him from publicly screening it. The film was then put away, seemingly destined to be forgotten in the archives of the Larry Rivers Foundation.

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(2015 – Directed by Benjamin Ortiz)

Growing was not a standard biography. It was a cinéma vérité-style exploration of fatherhood, mortality, and the messy process of artistic creation. But the twist? The film focused heavily on his infant son, Sam, and the physical act of his wife, Clarice, nursing the child.

Rivers viewed the project as an honest, "objective" exploration of time and biological growth, claiming it was an attempt to make "life seem absurd" through art.

Incorporating commercial imagery and everyday American icons.

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To understand the value of the 1981 documentary, one must understand the man at its center. Often dubbed the "godfather of Pop Art," Larry Rivers (1923–2002) was a visual chameleon. He blurred the lines between: