Father–daughter sculpting team creates wintry walrus

Iced coffee took on a whole new form in Vandalia this year, as Kyla and Ken Bedel created a coffee-colored “snow walrus” on Upper Trent Way.

The sculpture is far from the first the duo has created. From alligators and castles to a chicken with sunglasses, snow shaping is a tradition the Bedel–Baxter household has upheld since before Kyla, 17, was born.

“We use it as a father–daughter bonding thing,” Kyla said.

With Ken’s love and experience in woodworking granting him not only the background for the work, but an eye for each creation’s flair, the sculpting has always been for his family's own enjoyment and creativity.

And while the work is done by dad and daughter, Holly Baxter, Ken’s wife, often plays the role of visionary.

“We did an alligator a few years ago and went, ‘This would look good green. How do we do that?’” Baxter said. “So now, when we do these animals, … we have gel food coloring here, and we'll add it to water.”

This time around, of course, the family used coffee to give their walrus a fur coat. But the colors, just like the tools Ken and Kyla use, are all made from things they had around the house.

Kyla uses gloved hands to sand down the snow’s rough edges. Ken uses simple masonry tools and snow shovels. The family’s only ‘trick’ is spraying the snow with water to help pack everything down.

The sculptures themselves aren’t meant to be formal creations, and Kyla said the activity, though enjoyable, is always relaxed. Sweet to create and sweet to share, the creation process was never designed for any accolade or accomplishment.

“It's fun,” Ken said. “I mean, you do it for your own entertainment. So, we just share because other people seem to like it too.”