Her Nonverbal Notes: A Silent Symphony

The Chicago Journal Staff on August 1, 2025

By: Chenyang Nie

In a quiet Los Angeles gallery on La Cienega Boulevard, an intimate exhibition invites viewers not just to see—but to feel. Curated by Chenyang Nie and presented by the nonprofit Artistry Edge, the group exhibition Her Nonverbal Notes offers a delicate exploration of female inner worlds, expressed through their distinct approaches.

The show features four exceptional women artists—Minmin Liang, Sue Shu, Xinyi Yang, and Yifei Wang—whose works unfold like handwritten entries in deeply personal journals. There are no grand declarations or loud statements. Instead, this exhibition subtly communicates. It speaks in metaphors, motifs, and material experiments, allowing viewers to absorb the works slowly, as one might read a friend’s secret letter.

The premise of Her Nonverbal Notes is both emotional and sensorial: to witness how women express their personal trajectories and imagination without relying on direct language. The works evoke introspection and vulnerability, offering the audience glimpses of dreams, soft memories, subtle humor, and fleeting moments of connection. Each piece is a tactile extension of its maker—woven, etched, or drawn from the inner folds of experience. The result is a gentle, almost meditative atmosphere that invites stillness and reflection.

Photo Courtesy: Verso Studio

Minmin Liang: Memory in Motif

Minmin Liang, a bilingual illustrator known for her story-driven approach, brings to the exhibition a gentle tribute to childhood wonder and life’s gentle absurdities. In Weaving: A Fragment of Memory, she reconstructs an afternoon through the evocative symbols of mahjong tiles, music, and a lounging cat—relics of comfort and cultural resonance.

Photo Courtesy: Verso Studio

Sue Shu: Nature Against the Man-Made

Shu, a Macomber Travel Award recipient and CalArts BFA graduate now pursuing her MFA at USC, continues to experiment with process-based forms. Her work reads like an ecological confession—one that doesn’t shout, but quietly pulses beneath the surface.

Xinyi Yang: Architecture of Emotion

New York-based illustrator Xinyi Yang infuses her works with a cinematic tenderness. Her celebrated piece Museum of the Big Apple, printed in rich Risograph hues, transforms the city’s iconic art institutions into an animated dollhouse. Each room reveals a story—a memory, an artifact, a figure from the city’s vibrant art scene.

Yang’s influences—ranging from 19th-century architecture to decorative arts—breathe through her soft, atmospheric compositions. Her accolades include honors from American Illustration, the Society of Illustrators, and iJungle Illustration Awards. Yet it’s her emotional restraint and poetic eye that truly distinguish her work. In Her Nonverbal Notes, her pieces feel like reveries—half-remembered, wholly felt.

Yifei Wang: Observing the Unseen

Yifei Wang’s charcoal and ink works bring a moody, contemplative counterpoint to the show. In Night Trees, Wang transforms ordinary oaks into looming, almost sentient beings. Drawing from Gothic architecture and fantastical imagery, their work merges the real with the surreal, asking: What do we see when we truly observe?

Wang’s approach is a balance between observation and invention. Their linework is expressive yet spare, filled with gaps that the viewer’s imagination is invited to complete. In a show built on nuance, their drawings stand out in their quiet power.

What connects all these works is not style or even subject—it’s intention. Each artist in Her Nonverbal Notes offers a piece of herself: not polished declarations, but private, vulnerable moments that resist being commodified. These are not loud works, but they linger with you. Like notes passed between friends, they carry warmth, introspection, and a certain ineffable knowing. The curator sought to create a space for quiet emotionality—a rare feat in an art world often obsessed with spectacle. With Artistry Edge, a nonprofit dedicated to nurturing emerging talent, Chenyang Nie uplifts voices that are often overlooked, especially among women in the early stages of their careers.

In an era where so much of our communication is immediate and performative, Her Nonverbal Notes reminds us of the value of what’s unspoken. These works encourage slowness, observation, and feeling. They are not explanations—they are experiences. For women who see fragments of themselves in these delicate articulations, and for those learning to listen more deeply, this exhibition provides a space to breathe, to reflect, and perhaps, to be silently understood.

Special Thanks to: Private Beach Studio, Photos by Verso Studio.

Albin Kaelin’s Quiet Revolution: Why Circularity Is No Longer Optional—And What Comes Next

The Chicago Journal Staff on August 1, 2025

By: Marcus Trent

In an era marked by growing climate concerns and industrial practices that often prioritize short-term gains, few voices have been as consistently visionary—and firmly grounded in principle—as that of Albin Kaelin. The Swiss business leader, sustainability advocate, and author of From Rebel to Radical Innovator: Leading the Transformation Through Circularity has spent more than three decades challenging how we produce, sell, and dispose of goods. His ideas, once considered unconventional, are now becoming a more prominent part of the conversation surrounding business sustainability.

Kaelin’s achievements are not the result of following fleeting trends or buzzwords. Instead, they reflect a deep commitment to principles—and a refusal to accept approaches that lack clarity.

“When I was forced to write with my right hand as a left-handed child, I asked why. No one could explain it. That taught me something early: never accept what lacks clarity,” Kaelin reflects. “That idea has shaped the way I approach everything in life.”

This clarity-first mindset, paired with his well-known assertions, “Innovation and leadership are the only survival strategies” and “If you compare, you start to compromise,” has been instrumental in helping Kaelin navigate years of resistance from industries hesitant to challenge the status quo. For much of his career, he faced what he describes as constant “headwind.” Yet, as he observes, things are shifting. Circularity, once a fringe idea, is increasingly finding its place in the mainstream—and is even beginning to shape legislation.

Kaelin is widely recognized as a pioneer of the Cradle to Cradle® (C2C) philosophy, a design framework that aims to eliminate waste by ensuring all materials used in production can be safely reused or returned to nature. As the CEO of epeaswitzerland GmbH and former managing director of Rohner Textil AG, Kaelin played a pivotal role in launching Climatex®, the world’s first C2C-certified textile, back in the 1990s—well before sustainability became a buzzword in corporate circles.

His 2024 book, From Rebel to Radical Innovator, serves as more than just a memoir of his leadership journey; it offers a practical guide for businesses and leaders looking to transition to a circular model. Through 60 real-world examples from 57 companies, Kaelin illustrates the moral and practical case for systemic change. And his message is resonating: in recent years, Kaelin has earned over 30 major awards, including multiple recognitions as Best CEO of the Year and Most Innovative CEO of the Year.

However, Kaelin is quick to downplay the significance of these accolades.

“The recognition isn’t really about me or my company,” Kaelin says. “What matters most is that the topic—circularity, regeneration—is now being seen as essential to our collective future. That it is even on the radar today is a significant milestone.”

One of the most notable shifts Kaelin has observed is among retailers and consumers. For many years, large retailers were reluctant to embrace models that required more transparency, supply chain reform, and material accountability. Yet, with the rise of digital tools and increasing public awareness, the tide has begun to turn.

“With digital platforms, consumers now have more insight into the systems behind the products they purchase,” Kaelin points out. “This transparency has opened up new opportunities. Retailers like Migros in Switzerland, for example, have taken meaningful steps toward circularity.”

That said, Kaelin is careful to emphasize that the journey is far from complete—and there is still much work to be done. The challenge now, he believes, is scale. While smaller or mid-sized companies may be able to pivot more quickly, the global giants often resist change, preferring to apply circular principles in ways that may dilute their true impact.

“They want to do it their own way,” Kaelin notes. “It still feels like a David and Goliath situation. But history has shown how that story plays out.”

For Kaelin, the future of circularity depends not only on regulation or innovation but on trust. His approach, developed over years of engaging with skeptical business leaders, is based on persuasion rather than coercion. He avoids imposing ideas and instead speaks the language of industry, encouraging decision-makers to reflect on their personal values.

“If the concept makes sense to them personally, the motivation to act follows naturally,” he explains. “Once that happens, the real work—proving the concept—can begin.”

This balance of principle and persuasion is what Kaelin refers to as “working on the interface”—not as an activist outside the system, nor a conformist within it, but as a mediator between two worlds. And it’s a role that has become increasingly important as the planet nears ecological limits.

However, Kaelin is far from a pessimist. He remains hopeful, even as he calls for the radical changes needed to secure a sustainable future. He believes in the power of human ingenuity—and, perhaps more importantly, in the potential for business to be a force for good.

“Circularity isn’t just sustainable—it’s more efficient. It creates better value. It aligns with natural systems. That’s why it is increasingly becoming an imperative,” Kaelin asserts.

For consumers, Kaelin emphasizes the impact of informed choices. Supporting brands that embrace transparency, demanding circular products, and asking the right questions are all ways individuals can help drive systemic change.

Ultimately, From Rebel to Radical Innovator is more than just a book. It is a call to action—and an invitation—for everyone, from CEOs to ordinary citizens, to participate in shaping a more sustainable and responsible economy.

Because, as Kaelin has demonstrated, change often begins not when everyone agrees—but when one person refuses to accept the status quo.

To explore Albin Kaelin’s circular economy blueprint, visit book.epeaswitzerland.com or find his book on Amazon.

Small Business vs. Startup: Which Path to Choose for Stability?

The Chicago Journal Staff 2 on August 1, 2025

When deciding between the starting of a small business or the launching of a startup, aspiring entrepreneurs face this key question: which path is offering more in stability? Each option presents unique opportunities, and each has its own advantages too. However, a set of challenges does exist for each option. Examining structure, funding, and growth potential lets individuals determine which route aligns with their goals for long-term stability better.

People often consider a business when they start their entrepreneurial adventure. A small business is often of this kind of business. Typically, these firms try to give goods or services to a market or nearby town. They seem to depend less on risky investments. These investments involve often more steady, predictable growth over time.

For example, classic small businesses can be a family-owned bakery or they can be a local plumbing service. These businesses usually have modest revenue goals, also owners focus on meeting the immediate needs of their customers while they maintain a manageable scale.

To create stable cash flow is often a key focus for most small businesses, which ensures long-term survival. Owners can reinvest within to profit the business or save so it grows over time. The risk of failure for small businesses can be lower if consistent demand and a loyal customer base exist.

What is a Startup?

Startups, on the other hand, are businesses that aim for rapid growth and scalability, often with a unique product or service that has high potential in the market. Unlike small businesses, startups are typically looking to attract venture capital or angel investors, who are willing to take on higher risks in exchange for a chance to receive high returns.

Startups often revolve around innovation. They are built to grow quickly, sometimes exponentially, and can operate in high-growth industries like technology or biotechnology. For example, a tech company with a new mobile app that could revolutionize how people communicate or a health tech firm creating a disruptive medical device could be considered startups.

While startups can offer significant returns, they also face higher risks. Investors often expect high scalability and rapid growth. If the business does not meet these expectations, it could face financial difficulties or even failure. Unlike small businesses, startups often operate with a longer timeline for profitability, which can add a layer of uncertainty.

Stability in Small Businesses

Small Business vs. Startup Which Path to Choose for Stability

Photo Credit: Unsplash.com

For many, small businesses provide a level of stability that startups cannot always guarantee. Stability in this context refers to predictable profits, manageable risks, and a consistent customer base. Because small businesses typically grow at a slower pace, they are less likely to face the dramatic ups and downs of startup ventures.

Moreover, small businesses often face fewer financial pressures, as they are less likely to rely on external investors for funding. This self-sufficiency allows business owners to focus on steady growth rather than rushing to meet external expectations.

A small business owner is also more likely to have a direct, hands-on role in the day-to-day operations. This provides greater control over decision-making and reduces the complexity of management. As a result, small business owners can feel more confident in their ability to navigate challenges because they are more intimately involved with the business’s core operations.

Stability in Startups

On the other hand, startups often come with a different kind of stability, one that is not immediately apparent. While startups may initially experience instability due to their rapid growth ambitions and the need to secure funding, they can achieve a higher level of market influence in the long run.

The key to startup stability lies in their potential for scalability. When successful, a startup can grow quickly and reach markets on a global scale. This growth can lead to significant financial rewards for investors and founders, but it often requires strong leadership and effective execution.

Additionally, startups often benefit from a more dynamic work environment, attracting top talent eager to work on innovative products. This drive for innovation can foster a sense of purpose and resilience among employees, further contributing to the startup’s ability to overcome early-stage challenges.

Which Path Offers More Stability?

Choosing between a small business and a startup depends on an entrepreneur’s risk tolerance and long-term goals. Those seeking a more predictable and stable business model may find that a small business offers a better fit. Small businesses typically provide steady cash flow and manageable risks, making them ideal for individuals looking to build a sustainable business without seeking rapid growth.

However, for those who are willing to take on more risk in pursuit of a larger payoff, startups can offer significant potential. While the journey is often more volatile, startups have the opportunity to scale quickly and achieve financial success on a much larger scale than most small businesses.

The decision ultimately comes down to how much risk one is willing to assume and how long they are prepared to wait for financial rewards. Some entrepreneurs may choose to start a small business and eventually transition into a startup as their business grows. Others may prefer the steady, reliable growth that a small business can offer from the outset.

Key Takeaways for Stability

Photo Credit: Unsplash.com

Small businesses are ideal for entrepreneurs seeking consistent cash flow, manageable risks, and steady growth. These businesses tend to focus on serving local markets and are often less reliant on external funding.
Startups offer higher growth potential but come with greater risk. They require significant external investment and have longer timelines for profitability. However, successful startups can scale quickly and provide significant financial rewards.
When considering stability, small businesses generally offer a more predictable and sustainable path, while startups offer a riskier but potentially more lucrative future.

In summary, both small businesses and startups present distinct advantages depending on the entrepreneur’s goals. Small businesses are generally more stable, offering predictable revenue and a manageable workload. Startups, on the other hand, offer the possibility of rapid growth but require a higher degree of risk tolerance and patience.