University libraries with robust art history departments frequently provide access to streaming databases (such as Artstor or specialized university archives) that hold educational licenses for rare documentaries. To help point you toward the right archive, let me know:
. Due to its disturbing nature and ongoing legal and ethical disputes,
: Rivers filmed his daughters topless or entirely naked. During these sessions, he would comment extensively on their changing physical forms and ask direct questions regarding their bodies, breast development, and sexuality.
He brought figurative painting back into focus when abstraction was considered the only serious form of art.
This article dives deep into the documentary’s origins, content, and significance within Rivers’ career. Moreover, it provides a responsible roadmap for those seeking to view the film legally, respecting the rights of the artist’s estate, distributors, and archives.
In 1981, Rivers edited the footage into a 45-minute film intending to showcase it publicly at an art exhibition. However, the girls' mother, Clarice, intervened and stopped the public screening. The footage was consequently locked away in Rivers' private archives. The Institutional and Legal Firestorm
Due to the age of the documentary, finding it requires seeking out specialized archives or art film distributors. Here are some ways to look for "Growing":