Phil Grabsky Records Painting of the Week in Friday Harbor During FHFF

In October 2025, the 13th Annual Friday Harbor Film Festival welcomed internationally acclaimed filmmaker and art historian Phil Grabsky to Friday Harbor for the North American premiere of his documentary Caravaggio. While on San Juan Island for the festival, Grabsky recorded a special on-site episode of his widely followed podcast, Painting of the Week — this time at the San Juan Islands Museum of Art (SJIMA).

The episode features a conversation with SJIMA Assistant Director Wendy Smith about River of Their Passing, a large-scale installation by artist Emily McIlroy that was on view during SJIMA’s 2025 Fall Exhibition.

A Festival Visit That Sparked a Global Conversation

Phil Grabsky and Wendy Smith at SJIMA.

Grabsky has long been known for bringing art history to life through his films and lectures. During his time at FHFF he took the opportunity to explore the island’s vibrant arts community. That exploration led him to SJIMA’s Nichols Gallery and to McIlroy’s striking work.

As Grabsky notes in the episode:

“At Friday Harbor there is a really very special museum, the San Juan Islands Museum of Art.”

The recording places Friday Harbor — and by extension FHFF — within an international arts dialogue reaching listeners around the world.

The Artwork: River of Their Passing

In the podcast conversation, Wendy Smith discusses McIlroy’s expansive collage installation, composed of torn watercolor paper layered with colored and sumi inks. The work depicts migrating caribou interwoven with salmon forms, reflecting themes of migration, interconnected ecosystems, and the continuity of life.

Emily McIlroy's "River of Their Passing" in the Nichols Gallery at SJIMA during Fall 2025 Exhibition.

Grabsky reflects on the work’s impact, describing it as:

“A very energetic piece.”

The discussion explores the artist’s process, the installation’s scale within the Nichols Gallery, and the spiritual and ecological layers embedded in the work. For FHFF audiences — many of whom are deeply engaged with films about environment, wildlife, and the Salish Sea — the themes resonate strongly.

It is a fitting intersection: a film festival committed to powerful storytelling and a museum presenting contemporary art that speaks to movement, nature, and human experience.

Watch or Listen

You can experience this special episode of Painting of the Week:

• Watch the full podcast on YouTube.

• Listen wherever you get your podcasts — including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and more.

The episode is part of Grabsky’s ongoing series exploring significant artworks around the world — and this installment was recorded right here in Friday Harbor during FHFF.

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Continuing the Arts Dialogue in Friday Harbor

The Friday Harbor Film Festival continues its year-round programming with Best of the Fest — free monthly screenings from January through September on San Juan and Lopez Islands, featuring award-winning documentaries paired with filmmaker Q&As.

Looking ahead, the 14th Annual Friday Harbor Film Festival returns October 22–25, 2026, bringing filmmakers and audiences together once again for four days of compelling documentary storytelling.

Phil Grabsky’s visit reminds us that Friday Harbor is more than a festival destination — it is part of a larger creative ecosystem where film, visual art, and community intersect.

We invite you to watch the episode, explore SJIMA, and join us this October for another inspiring festival experience.