File:Pool of Thought, Trompe l'oeil mural by John Pugh, Fairbanks, Alaska.jpg

English: Pool of Thought provides several symbols that relate to the subject of school. On the left wall of we start with an obvious academic classic -- the School of Athens by Raphael. During its golden age, Pericles helped engineer Athens into becoming a crucible for creative genius, from which great philosophers, mathematicians, writers and artists emerged. The Greek academe is a cornerstone for western civilization and is the foundation for our educational system today.

With a nod to King Minos, the vibrant teal columns in the mural are borrowed from the Palace in Konossos on Crete -- the heart of Europe's first great civilization. Influenced by Egypt and the East, the Minoans were richly cultured and served as an early model for the Greeks.

A drypoint by Picasso depicts two music making muses, living a life of culture and leisure-- representing the Liberal Arts. To its right, inspired by Mark Tobey, is a painting I created. With its subtle and cerebral textures and colors I think this piece provides a potion of modern thought. It's titled simply Northern Lights.

Paintings on the right side focus more on the local Arctic region and culture. First is the work of the Tlingit, a northwest coast people indigenous to Alaska. Then finally, a modified version of a William Bradford painting entitled Afterglow. I felt that the explorer ship near an iceberg eloquently portrays the scientific exploration of the Arctic region.