In the small rural town of Princeton, Wisconsin, Pat Perry unveils a mural that bridges the intimate scale of local life with the vast forces shaping our world. 27 Schoolteachers and a Volcano is a sweeping landscape dominated by snow‑capped mountains and a dramatic volcanic eruption at its center. Along the top and bottom borders, Perry integrates hand‑painted portraits of 27 local educators, each one a real teacher from the community.

Commissioned by the Princeton Art Collective, the work reflects on the dizzying pace of modern life—an era defined by constant information, global crises, and the feeling of being pulled between the personal and the planetary. Perry uses the volcano as a metaphor for the overwhelming events that erupt across the world, while the teachers symbolize the steady, everyday figures who help others navigate uncertainty.

The mural captures Perry’s signature blend of narrative depth, emotional clarity, and social reflection. It honors the quiet resilience of educators while reminding viewers that even in the most remote places, no one is insulated from the immense forces that shape our shared future.