The keyword distinguishes this artifact from countless other films with the same verb in their title. This specific documentary, directed by John Schott (with heavy collaboration from Rivers himself), was a landmark of metafictional biography.
Though rarely seen, Growing has influenced a generation of artist-filmmakers who work at the intersection of diary film and nature study, such as Tacita Dean and Ben Rivers (no relation). It reminds us that Larry Rivers was not merely a painter who dabbled in film, but a genuine cinematic innovator who understood that the camera could capture something a paintbrush could not: the slow, relentless, beautiful and terrible process of living matter transforming itself. Documentary Growing 1981 Larry Rivers Download
In 2024/2025, there is a revival of interest in "bad painting" and the macho angst of mid-century artists. Growing offers a primary source document of a world without social media, where an artist’s reputation was built on public tantrums and private genius. The keyword distinguishes this artifact from countless other
: Sometimes, the best place to find specific works by an artist is through their official website, archives, or foundations dedicated to their work. It reminds us that Larry Rivers was not
