Luke Fowler's 2020 film 'Patrick' explores musician Patrick Cowley's legacy through 16mm documentary
In the 2020 documentary 'Patrick,' Luke Fowler delves into the life of musician Patrick Cowley (1950–82) through a 21-minute 16mm film that marries Cowley's electronic compositions with the vistas of California. The film showcases Cowley’s 'Sea of China' and features notable locations like The EndUp nightclub and the Electronic Music Lab at City College of San Francisco. Commentary from Cowley's friend Maurice Tani highlights his technical prowess. A disco innovator, Cowley was instrumental in the Hi-NRG genre and co-established Megatone Records in 1981 alongside Marty Blecman. Archival footage from the GLBT Historical Society is included. Cowley succumbed to AIDS-related issues in 1982. 'Patrick' draws inspiration from Dan Graham's 1984 video essay and is accessible for streaming and rental on Vimeo On Demand.
Key facts
- Luke Fowler created the 2020 documentary 'Patrick' about musician Patrick Cowley
- The film runs 21 minutes and was shot exclusively on 16mm film
- Patrick Cowley lived from 1950 to 1982 and died from AIDS-related complications
- Cowley co-founded Megatone Records in 1981 with Marty Blecman
- Key locations include The EndUp nightclub and City College of San Francisco's Electronic Music Lab
- Cowley's music evolved from disco to pioneering Hi-NRG, influencing house and techno
- The film features voiceover from Cowley's collaborator Maurice Tani
- Archival materials come from the GLBT Historical Society in San Francisco
Entities
Artists
- Luke Fowler
- Patrick Cowley
- Martin Bartlett
- Cornelius Cardew
- Dan Graham
- Maurice Tani
- Cerrone
- Sylvester
- Paul Parker
- Marty Blecman
- Brian Eno
Institutions
- The EndUp
- City College of San Francisco
- Electronic Music Lab
- Megatone Records
- GLBT Historical Society
- ArtReview
Locations
- Pacific Ocean
- Bay Area
- San Francisco
- United States
- California