American poet Sherry Weaver Smith received an MPhil in Politics at the University of Oxford. She was a Pushcart Prize nominee in 2008 and is currently a grant writer and editor for an educational nonprofit in California.
Belgian artist Sylvia Van Strijthem completed an MA in Area Studies (Africa) at the University of London's School of Oriental and African Studies. Today, she continues her journey with Chinese brush painting in England.
Based in a quarter-century friendship, their collaboration reflects Van Strijthem's time working for a diplomatic mission in Hong Kong and Smith's experience working for a foundation for at-risk children in the Philippines.