Orange Teeth and Artistic Dreams

Ian Droessler, CNC student volunteer

Did you know that beavers have orange teeth? Neither did I—until a few weeks ago. While talking to the Kathryn Dudeck, Wildlife Director at the Chattahoochee Nature Center (CNC), I learned that the mural design sketch I created for the beaver exhibit needed a key adjustment: it had to highlight the beavers’ orange teeth. Why orange? Turns out, their enamel is iron rich, giving its striking hue and strength to gnaw through trees. Who knew? That little fact inspired me to dig even deeper into my project.

As a Junior at Innovation Academy Charter School in Alpharetta, GA, I was given the exciting opportunity to work on a semester-long, self-directed research project. The idea was to combine my passions—art and nature—and explore how one could influence the other. My research question? “Can public art influence engagement with the environment?”  I wanted to create something that would live close to home, nestled within the natural world I love, where it could inspire others. As I realized this project could easily turn into something much bigger than my calcium rich human teeth could chew off, I also wanted to involve my family and local business community as volunteers. CNC was my first choice as their mission is to “connect people with nature”. Not only did they welcome my proposal, but they also connected me with Thomas Turner, the brilliant artist behind CNC’s iconic staircase mural, to mentor me.

My goal was to design something vibrant and joyful—art that would capture attention, spark curiosity, and inspire questions. Questions like, “Why are there two beavers in the mural when the habitat only has one beaver?” “Is the background water or sky?” “Is that a magnolia?”  And my personal favorite: “Why are the beavers’ teeth orange?”

Over spring break, my amazing crew of family members and volunteers from CHEP joined me to transform a dull, brown 26-foot fence into a fun (and mostly factual) masterpiece celebrating nature’s architects: the beavers. The process was just as rewarding as the finished piece. Visitors of all ages stopped by to watch us sand, prime, sketch, and paint. Their feedback and excitement kept us motivated, and seeing their enthusiasm to return and admire the finished mural made it all worthwhile—even though my grade was based on research data, not the art itself!

The final survey results were overwhelmingly positive, proving what I had hoped all along: art truly can engage people with their environment. I’m proud to have contributed to my community and the CNC while also answering my research question with a resounding “yes.”

Who knew orange teeth could spark so much inspiration?