In this episode, Qanita Lilla talks with the celebrated artist, Jamelie Hassan about growing up as a first generation Arab Canadian. Jamelie talks about how, with her parent’s encouragement, she traversed continents to study art and to find her creative voice. She does not separate the role of her community in the founding of the artist-run centre, Embassy Cultural House in London, Ontario, and neither does she preclude the valuable, life-long contribution of her beloved life-partner and artist, Ron Benner.

We are back with a brand new season of With Opened Mouths. The podcast where we get exceptional creatives to speak for themselves. I am your host Qanita Lilla, Curator of Canadian and African art at Agnes Etherington Art Centre, Queen’s University.

Join us as we hear from artists, scholars, musicians and media workers working in Canada and Africa today. This season, my guests share how lived experience impacts creative practice, the role of intergenerational learning and how travel expands perspectives, and the importance of collaboration. We also hear how art, language, Black history and music help shape worlds of possibility, trust and resilience.

Episodes of With Opened Mouths are released monthly, and you can find them on Digital Agnes, CFRC’s website and on your favorite podcasting platform starting on the 25th of September 2026!

ElizaBeth Hill talks with Qanita Lilla and guest host Sebastian De Line about her music practice that spans multiple decades. She shares how her songwriting and multimedia artworks reflect her Mohawk culture, are connected to both her spiritual and physical environment, and how they are influenced by her collaborators.

Music highlighted in this episode:

ElizaBeth Hill. “Peacemaker’s Lullaby.” Peacemaker’s Lullaby, 2005, #6. Courtesy of the artist.