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American Mirrors: Chicago Reflects

The Formosa Quartet’s American Mirror Project is a collaboration between the artists and the community at large, inviting our personal reflections on the history, identity, and meaning of “America” into their musical performance. What does your America look like, sound like, taste like? What comes to mind when you think of America? 

Guarneri Hall is proud to present the Chicago edition of American Mirror on March 26 and 27, 2026. In partnership with the Formosa Quartet, we’ve been gathering a collection of “Chicago” mirrors from a wide range of sources, some of which are destined to live within a new piece by Paul Novak, commissioned by Guarneri Hall for the project. Some of the contributions are shared below. Collectively, they shed new light on what it means to be a Chicagoan, and an American!

We would love to hear your voice as well! Send your mirror—that is, your responses to any of the 12 prompts below—to info@guarnerihall.org with subject line “Mirror.”

Selected Mirrors

What does your America look like?

America to me looks like a variety of different things but the very first thing I think of is the big city I live in which is Chicago with the large skyscrapers in downtown.

-Jonny, age 16

My America looks like a melting pot of different colors, cultures & race, where every person has the equal chance of success, where every person is welcome into our country, no matter what you might look like or what class you might be.

-Marcos, age 17

America looks like the dream everyone wants to live in yet, as an American, you learn the truth that America isn’t what people say it is. Why should some people be called Americans if others can’t? Am I even American? How can America be home to all if people like me are called illegal? To me America looks like a failed attempt to include everyone because no matter how much time passes America never fails to lie.

-Diana, age 15

To me, my view of America should be a place where everyone is treated equally no matter their differences in identity, race or background. Additionally, America should be open to all choices and identities like LGBTQ+, which is still a problem today in the US.

-Francis, age 13

To me America looks calm and peaceful with usually green trees in the summer.

-Christopher, age 16

My America looks like being a minority as part of the LGBTQ+ having fear and being judged a lot but at times I feel safe because I’m with a community.

-Manuel, age 17

What does your America sound like?

Like the cars on the street and the conversations people have. Not just one language can be heard creating a diversity so beautiful it almost feels safer. America sounds like connections people have, not just one of everything but more of it all.

-Diana, age 15

Sounds like a motivational music video because there’s a lot to do and have to get done.

-Jonny, age 16

My America sounds like rock. People yelling at their feelings. Taking advantage of freedom of speech, loving loudly, being passionate but also full of hate on one side.

-Rubi, age 17

My America sounds like the rush of cars on a Wednesday morning. The horns from every angry person trying to get to work on time.

-Lyla, age 16

What does your America taste like?

My America doesn’t have one specific taste. It has so much flavor with different spices from all cultures.

-Lyla, age 16

America to me tastes like the typical McDonald’s because wherever I go I always see one and sometimes I stop to grab a snack.

-Jonny, age 16

America is a place that tastes like freedom.

-Andre, age 15

In 5 words or less, what is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of America?

Family, opportunity, freedom.

-Andre, Age 15

Hope, oppression and the people.

-Kevin, age 17

I see happiness in America.

-David, age 14

Diverse.

-Lyla, age 16

In 5 words or less, complete this sentence: “America is ___.”

A place with many available choices.

-Juliette, age 17

Fake, rage, disappointment, guilt and diverse.

-Diana, age 15

A land of opportunities.

-David, age 14

Complete this sentence: “When I hear the word ‘America’, I see ___.”

People walking, flowers, big buildings and history.

-Xiodani, age 17

Happiness.
-David, age 14

“When I think of America I think…”

When I think of America I think of hard work. I think of the poor families struggling to feed their kids. I think of the rich that become richer. When I think of America I think of blood, sweat and tears. I think of people wishing for a better life.

-Camila, age 17

When I think of America I think of burgers, an eagle, freedom, but I also think of the memories I have as a kid.

-Christopher, age 16

Innocent citizens negatively including lives.

-David, age 17

Complete this sentence: “I used to see America as ___ but now I think it is ___.”

I used to see America as a place of freedom, riches, as the American dream depicts. But now I think the American dream was just a lie. Here people only prosper if they have connections or a chance to have opportunity. Many people come to America expecting their dreams to come true, then step into reality that the grass is not always greener on the other side.

-Camila, age 17

I used to see America as “the land of the free,” somewhere with equal opportunities, but as I got older and see what is happening, it seems to be further from that. This seems to be true if you are wealthy and white, but if you are a minority and/or not white you have to work so much harder due to hate and prejudice.

-Marcos, age 17

A place with lots of freedom, nice people no matter how rich or poor they are, loyal, but now I think it is full of lies, fake people who only care how rich or poor you are, and no freedom of nothing.

-Xiodani, age 17

I used to see America as a perfect and equal place, but now I think it is a plain and violent country because after learning and seeing the things that happen in America. There are lots of problems based on race, background, choices etc.

-Francis, age 13

I used to see America as a place where people could accomplish their dreams but now I think it is harder to survive than it is to strive.

-Avram, age 16

I used to see America as an advanced country full of opportunities but now I think it is the most looked down on country with terrible leadership & violence.

-Avram, age 16

What is one American issue that you feel strongly about?

An American issue that’s still a large concern to me is police violence against citizens, which I think is not fair and unjust. I believe the police should be more diminished and have less powers.

-Francis, age 13

ICE.

-Avram, age 16

I feel like one of America’s issues is there’s a lot of hatred for no reason and we sometimes need to worry about the good things and a lot of people have hate in them.

-Manuel, age 17

The racial and sexual harassment and discrimination that has not been resolved over decades.

-David, age 17

What is one critique of America that you’d like to bring to attention?

I would like to bring up the consumerism culture of today. We tend to use much more than needed and put our waste in overloaded landfills in both our country and other countries around the world.

-Juliette, age 17

What song or piece of music would be the soundtrack to your America?

Kanye West – Homecoming.

-Rubi, age 17

Anything country, hip hop or white girl music.

-Christopher, age 16

Complete this sentence: “No American Mirror would be complete without ___.”

The immigrants because immigrants help American economy by doing labors that many people don’t do because of the pay or lack of comfort, but they do it. Immigrants contribute 1.2 trillion dollars to the American economy, even though this is a fact they still try to push us out.

-Camila, age 17

The everyday person standing in a cycle of oppressor and oppressed.

-Kevin, age 17

Immigrants who build this country.

-Marcos, age 17

A reflection of someone who enjoys being on a mirror and love and care from those people.

-Xiodani, age 17

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