Borderline Chalkfest

09/11/2026

Check it out!

Wahpeton native Shawn McCann is among 20 chalk artists recreating portraits of the 40 passengers and crew members who died aboard Flight 93.
Link in the comments 👇

09/10/2026

And for our final 2026 professional artist spotlight, we’re celebrating another familiar face who has made her way back to Wahpeton time and time again… Annmarie Geniusz! 🎨⚡🎶

Always smiling, always happy, and always an absolute pleasure to have around, Annmarie has become another treasured member of our Borderline Chalkfest family. This year, she brought together two things at the heart of our big festival weekend—ART + MUSIC—with her incredible 10’ x 10’ David Bowie tribute, “As the World Falls Down.” With 2026 marking 10 years since Bowie’s passing and 40 years since Labyrinth hit theaters, Annmarie blended different eras of Bowie’s career with characters, scenes, and imagery from the film that influenced her growing up. From his Ziggy Stardust-inspired portrait to the crystal balls, wings, maze-like details and little nods tucked throughout, this was one of those pieces you could stand in front of and keep discovering something new. ✨

And there was a reason Annmarie chose to create this particular piece right here in Wahpeton. With Borderline Chalkfest and Headwaters Music Festival coming together this year, she wanted to create something that would connect with both art AND music lovers—and boy, did it ever. Throughout the weekend, people stopped at her square to share their favorite Bowie songs, memories, and stories. As Annmarie put it, “It felt good to remember together.” ❤️ That right there is what this crazy little festival of ours is all about. Art may begin with the artist, but the conversations, connections, memories and emotions it creates belong to everyone.

Annmarie, thank YOU for choosing our streets once again, for braving one heck of a hot weekend, and for continuing to bring your smile, creativity, and incredible talent back to the Twin Towns. Hearing you call Borderline Chalkfest our “wonderful little gem of a chalk festival” means more than you probably know. We’re grateful you continue to consider Wahpeton-Breckenridge a place worth coming back to, and we certainly hope we haven’t seen the last of you! 💛

Show Annmarie some love!
📸 Instagram:
📘 Facebook: Annmarie Geniusz
🌐 ageniusz.com
💚 Venmo: annmarie-geniusz

09/08/2026

Today's artist spotlight celebrates one of Borderline Chalkfest's favorite returning artists... Doug Holubek! 🎨🦬🦅

Doug has been making the trip from Harrisburg, South Dakota, to Borderline Chalkfest for years, and every summer we're excited to see what incredible creation he'll bring to downtown Wahpeton. This year, though, he brought something even more special with him... his daughters! Watching them kneel beside their own chalk squares, creating artwork just a few feet away from their dad, was one of those moments that perfectly captured what Borderline Chalkfest is all about. Creativity really is contagious.

Doug's piece celebrated the beauty of the Great Plains, featuring a powerful American bison standing its ground as a soaring eagle swooped overhead. Full of movement, vibrant color, and incredible detail, it felt like a scene straight from the prairie. Meanwhile, his daughters were busy pouring just as much heart into their own colorful creations, reminding us that every great artist starts somewhere. There was something incredibly special about watching festival-goers admire Doug's professional masterpiece before wandering over to encourage and compliment his girls. It was a beautiful reminder that Borderline Chalkfest isn't just about creating art—it's about inspiring the next generation of artists, too.

Doug, thank you for continuing to return to Wahpeton and for sharing both your talent and your family with our community this year. Seeing your daughters experience Chalkfest alongside you was a joy, and we hope it becomes a tradition they'll remember for years to come. We can't wait to welcome all three of you back to the Twin Towns next summer!

Show Doug some love!
📸 Instagram:

09/03/2026

Today's artist spotlight is all about one of our favorite new friends... Kendall Laurent! 🌼🐦🎨

Making her very first trip to Borderline Chalkfest this summer, Kendall fit right in from the moment she arrived. With a smile that never seemed to fade and a joke always ready to go, she brought such a fun, easygoing energy to the festival. Whether she was chatting with fellow artists or visiting with festival-goers, it felt like she'd been part of our Chalkfest family for years—and we couldn't have been happier to welcome her to Wahpeton.

A Minneapolis-based painter and multidisciplinary artist, Kendall has showcased her work throughout the Midwest, but this summer she created a piece that felt right at home in North Dakota. Her stunning mural featured a vibrant Western Meadowlark perched among blooming purple coneflowers, combining rich color, beautiful detail, and a peaceful prairie scene that had visitors stopping in their tracks. It was a wonderful reminder of the beauty that surrounds us every day and a perfect addition to the streets of downtown Wahpeton.

Like so many of our artists, Kendall braved the heat with a smile, creating through the sweat while taking time to visit with everyone who stopped by her square. It's artists like Kendall who remind us that Borderline Chalkfest is about so much more than chalk on the pavement—it's about the connections made, the conversations shared, and the memories created along the way.

Kendall, thank you for making the trip to Wahpeton and for sharing your incredible talent, positivity, and laughter with our community. We absolutely loved getting to know you, and we sincerely hope this was the first of many Borderline Chalkfests. Our little corner of North Dakota will always have a chalk square waiting for you. 💛

Show Kendall some love!
📸 Instagram: .laurent.art
🌐 kendalllaurent.com
💚 Venmo: k-laurent-art

09/01/2026

Today's artist spotlight celebrates one of Borderline Chalkfest's biggest dream chasers... Rylee Slivicki. 🐅✨

Since the very first Borderline Chalkfest in 2019, Rylee has been part of our festival family, and what an incredible journey it's been to watch. One of the sweetest, brightest, and most down-to-earth artists you'll ever meet, Rylee returned to Wahpeton this year with an even bigger smile than usual—and for good reason. This summer marked a huge milestone as she officially took the leap to become a full-time artist! Rolling into town in her camper van, chasing her dreams one festival at a time, we couldn't have been happier to welcome her back home.

This year's piece couldn't have reflected Rylee's own journey any better. Featuring a woman standing face-to-face with a powerful tiger, the artwork symbolized courage, faith, and the willingness to step into the unknown. As Rylee shared, the tiger represents "the courage to chase your dreams—to live boldly, embrace the unknown, and pursue what truly sets your soul on fire." Looking at the piece now, it's hard not to see her own story woven into every chalk stroke. After all, this was the very summer she took that leap herself, proving that sometimes the scariest steps lead to the most beautiful destinations.

As if that wasn't exciting enough, Rylee also captured the hearts of our festival-goers for the second year in a row, earning the 2026 Borderline Chalkfest People's Choice Award in the Professional Artist category! It's a well-deserved honor for an artist who not only creates breathtaking work, but also shares so much kindness, encouragement, and light with everyone she meets.

Rylee, thank you for believing in Borderline Chalkfest from the very beginning and for continuing to inspire our community year after year. Watching your artistic journey unfold has been such a privilege, and we'll be cheering you on every mile of the road ahead. Here's to following your heart, chasing big dreams, and hopefully making a stop in Wahpeton for many summers to come. ❤️

Show Rylee some love!
🌐 https://www.creativeroseart.com/
📸 Instagram: @ creative_rose19
💚 Venmo: -slivicki

08/27/2026

Today's artist spotlight is dedicated to our hometown hero... Shawn McCann. 💙🎨

Long before Borderline Chalkfest filled our downtown streets with color, Shawn was helping dream it into reality. As a Wahpeton native, Shawn was there in the earliest planning stages back in 2019, sharing his experience, his vision, and his passion for street art to help create what has now become one of our community's signature summer traditions. It's hard to imagine where Borderline Chalkfest would be today without him, and every year we're reminded just how lucky we are to welcome him home.

Since that very first festival, Shawn has continued to amaze us with one incredible masterpiece after another. This year's 3D piece featured Gideon, one of Chahinkapa Zoo's beloved rhinos, enjoying a well-earned splash in a kiddie pool—a fitting scene considering the weekend's triple-digit heat! 🦏💦 Equal parts playful, interactive, and technically brilliant, it became another favorite for festival-goers and a reminder of Shawn's incredible ability to transform ordinary pavement into something unforgettable.

While Shawn's artwork has taken him all over the world—from murals and installations to international street art festivals and award-winning public art—he still makes time to come back to the place where it all began. And that means more to us than we can put into words. Shawn, thank you for believing in Borderline Chalkfest before it was even Borderline Chalkfest. Thank you for mentoring artists, inspiring thousands of visitors, supporting our community, and helping create something that has grown far beyond what any of us imagined. You'll always have a place in the heart of this festival, and we'll always be proud to call you one of our own.

Welcome home, Shawn. We'll see you next summer. ❤️

Show Shawn some love!
📸 Instagram: .arts
🌐 shawnmccann.com
🎨 Canvas Convergence Gallery
💚 Venmo:

08/25/2026

Today’s artist spotlight celebrates one of our hometown originals and the woman behind some of Borderline Chalkfest’s most intricate community creations… Sandy Forseth! 🎨☀️

Sandy has been part of Borderline Chalkfest since the early days, and over the years her community mandalas have become something truly special. In fact, her very first “biggie” community mandala happened right here at Borderline Chalkfest with her “Doily Dala”—the piece where she learned all about those wonderfully unexpected shapes that appear when a community comes together to create! Since then, we’ve watched her designs grow, evolve, and tell a new story each year, all while giving festival-goers the chance to pick up a piece of chalk and become part of the artwork themselves.

This year’s creation, “Musical Splash Dala,” may just have packed more summertime fun into one circle than we thought possible! ☀️🎶 Created in honor of the first year Borderline Chalkfest and the music festival came together, every layer told another piece of the story. At the center: time in the sun, a compass pointing in every direction, and colorful paint splashing outward. Look a little closer and you’ll find waves, sand pails and flip-flops, kids with their noses buried in summertime books, nods to music and the arts, and an outer edge bursting with strawberries, watermelon, grapes and cherries. 🍓🍉🍒 And the BEST part? So many of those pops of color came from the hands of our community!

Sandy, thank you for being part of Borderline Chalkfest from the beginning, for bringing your creativity to our hometown year after year, and for creating artwork that doesn't just belong to one artist—it belongs to everyone who helps fill it in. ❤️ And a special shoutout to Sandy’s longtime mandala helpers, Nancy Pauli and Elaine Perleberg Klocke, who have lent their hands to these creations over the years!

We’re so lucky to have our very own Mandala Maker right here at home, and we can’t wait to see what “Dala” comes next! ✨

08/20/2026

Today's artist spotlight celebrates Borderline Chalkfest's very own Dynamic Duo... Craig & Jamie Rogers of Rogers Create! 🎨💙

For Craig and Jamie, creating art has always been something they do together. The husband-and-wife team has been collaborating since high school, and even celebrated their wedding by entering their very first chalk festival together in 2010. Since then, they've traveled the country creating incredible interactive 3D artwork, and we've been lucky enough to welcome them back to Wahpeton year after year. They're always up for a conversation, always smiling, and somehow manage to dream up something completely different every single summer.

This year's piece was inspired by one of their favorite Borderline Chalkfest traditions—the Friday behind-the-scenes tour of Chahinkapa Zoo! After finally getting to experience the full tour, meeting the animals, watching Tal the orangutan paint, feeding kangaroos, and even catching a baby joey peeking out for the very first time, they left bursting with inspiration. Instead of creating a single focal point, Craig and Jamie designed an entire interactive scene for festival-goers to step into. Buckets of vibrant paint spilled into colorful clouds where sharks swam, birds soared, and silhouettes of zoo animals came to life—inviting kids and adults alike to explore every inch of the artwork. Watching families laugh, pose for photos, and discover new details throughout the weekend was just as much fun as the artwork itself.

Craig and Jamie, thank you for continuing to bring your creativity, your playful spirit, and your incredible talent back to Borderline Chalkfest each year. Your interactive pieces remind us that chalk art isn't just something to admire—it's something to experience. We can't wait to see what your imaginations dream up next summer!

Show Craig & Jamie some love!
📘 Facebook: Rogers Create
📸 Instagram:
🌐 rogerscreate.com
💚 Venmo:

08/18/2026

Today's artist spotlight belongs to our very own Zoo Whisperer... Gloria Ing! 🦁🎨

If you've been to Borderline Chalkfest over the years, chances are you've admired one (or several!) of Gloria's incredible chalk creations featuring our beloved Chahinkapa Zoo animals. She's become one of our veteran artists and has a special knack for capturing the personality of every furry, feathered, or fuzzy friend she chooses to bring to life on the pavement. Around here, she's also affectionately known as "that lady from L.A." who's somehow wearing long sleeves, pants, and even a sweatshirt while chalking on 140-degree concrete... and somehow still smiling! 😅

Behind the scenes, Gloria has become part of our little Chalkfest family. While she's somehow managed to miss the artists' behind-the-scenes zoo tour the past couple of years, she's been lucky enough to stay with Bruce and his family from Chahinkapa Zoo. If you know Bruce, you know that can sometimes mean sharing a home with a few unexpected guests! Last year it was baby Rupert the kangaroo, who many of you may remember from Gloria's heartwarming chalk piece. This year, she turned her attention to another crowd favorite—the zoo's playful ring-tailed lemurs. Full of charm, curiosity, and those unmistakable bright yellow eyes, her piece perfectly captured the mischievous personalities that make the lemur exhibit such a favorite stop for visitors of all ages.

Gloria, thank you for continuing to make the journey back to Wahpeton year after year and for sharing your incredible talent with our community. Your love for animals shines through every piece you create, and we always look forward to seeing which Chahinkapa Zoo resident will inspire you next. We can't wait to welcome you back to the Twin Towns next year!

Show Gloria some love!
📸 Instagram: .art
💚 Venmo: -ing

08/13/2026

Today's artist spotlight is all about one of our quiet creators... Maria Olson (formerly Maria Loh)! 🤍🎨

First things first... congratulations, Maria, on your recent marriage! 💍 We were so excited to welcome you back to Borderline Chalkfest this year with a new last name but the same incredible talent we've come to know and love. Maria has been part of the Borderline Chalkfest family for years, and while you'll often find her completely immersed in her artwork, she's never too busy to share a warm smile with those stopping by her square. Watching her work is something special—she settles into her creative world and, piece by piece, transforms an empty stretch of pavement into something truly breathtaking.

This year's artwork was a beautiful recreation of *Infinite World* by artist Geethu Chandramohan, a piece from the *Infinite Mind* collection. Stepping outside her comfort zone with a new geometric style and vibrant color palette, Maria embraced the challenge and created a stunning tribute filled with light, movement, and emotion. It's one of those pieces that invites you to pause for a moment and discover something new each time you look at it.

Maria, thank you for continuing to share your talent with our community and for being such a treasured part of Borderline Chalkfest year after year. We always look forward to seeing what you'll create next, and we hope we'll have the privilege of welcoming you back to Wahpeton for many more summers to come.

Show Maria some love!
📘 Facebook: Searose Fine Art
📸 Instagram: