{"id":530133,"date":"2026-07-17T04:57:13","date_gmt":"2026-07-17T04:57:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/530133\/"},"modified":"2026-07-17T04:57:13","modified_gmt":"2026-07-17T04:57:13","slug":"rockford-artist-to-attempt-72-hour-no-sleep-live-painting-marathon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/530133\/","title":{"rendered":"Rockford artist to attempt 72-hour no sleep live-painting marathon"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Rockford artist Jesse T. Leach will attempt to live paint for 72 hours straight with no sleep. The artistic endurance event is slated for Friday, July 31, 2026, to Monday, Aug. 3, 2026, at Souljah Wellness, 412 E. State St., in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas\/Rock River Current)
\nBy Kevin Haas
Rock River Current<\/a>
Get our mobile app<\/a><\/p>\n

ROCKFORD \u2014 Artist Jesse T. Leach<\/a> has emerged in recent years as a familiar face for live painting at different local events and festivals.<\/p>\n

His next feat will blend art and endurance challenge.<\/p>\n

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The 35-year-old artist plans to paint for 72 consecutive hours without sleep. He hasn\u2019t decided on how many pieces he\u2019ll create. He could fill multiple canvases or focus on one large project.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a challenge for me to see how far I can really push myself and see how dedicated I am to the craft,\u201d Leach said. \u201cIt\u2019s not just doing art, but doing art to the extreme.\u201d<\/p>\n

The three-day live-painting marathon will kick off at 8 a.m. Friday, July 31 and conclude at 8 a.m. Monday, Aug. 3 at SoulJah Wellness<\/a>, 412 E. State St., next to Wired Cafe in downtown. Leach plans to livestream the event on his social media pages so people can follow his progress.<\/p>\n

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Long periods of sleep deprivation can limit cognitive function and cause disorientation, with the symptoms worsening the longer one goes without sleep, researchers in various studies found. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health<\/a> compared 24 hours without sleep to having a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.10%, which would be over the 0.08% legal limit to drive. There is also potential for hallucinations and other adverse health effects after 24 hours without sleep.<\/p>\n

Leach\u2019s limit-pushing endeavor stems from a 12-word Facebook post he made July 3 on a whim. It read: \u201cI want to paint art for 72 hours straight. No sleep. Live.\u201d<\/p>\n

Theresa McDermott, a registered nurse and the owner of Souljah Wellness, encouraged him not to just post about it, but to make it happen.<\/p>\n

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\u201cJesse is a man like I\u2019ve never met before. He\u2019s a very spiritually awakened soul. He\u2019s literally walking the path,\u201d she said. \u201cI see his great belief in himself and his passion for really wanting to make a life for himself.\u201d<\/p>\n

They chose a weekend where McDermott wasn\u2019t working her nursing job so she could be on hand to ensure his safety during the long sleepless painting session. Leach will pause his painting for essentials such as food, hydration, using the restroom and short breaks to keep his body fresh.<\/p>\n

The public will be invited into the space for most of the 72 hours, including for the energetic spin classes that will take place during that span.<\/p>\n

During certain hours when the doors are locked for safety, Leach will be in front of the window continuing to paint. There will also be music spinning from DJ Rated AG on the first night.<\/p>\n

\"AJesse T. Leach paints on Sunday, June 7, 2026, during South Main Mercado in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas\/Rock River Current)<\/p>\n

Leach hopes people will stop in to talk with him to keep him energized throughout the event.<\/p>\n

He said he\u2019s doing it to challenge himself, inspire other artists and support Souljah Wellness, a spin studio that\u2019s focused on health for body and mind.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m doing it for Souljah Wellness, I\u2019m doing it for other artists, I\u2019m doing it for Rockford itself, and of course I\u2019m always speaking about my son, so I\u2019m doing it for him,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

He said he\u2019s been busy recently with live-painting events and murals, but he\u2019s ready for this new challenge.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe work ethic is real nasty right now,\u201d he said. \u201cAs long as I can pace myself and don\u2019t burn myself out, I feel like I can pull it off.\u201d<\/p>\n

Leach has been live painting at Souljah Wellness for months now, taking to the canvas during spin classes. The space has become his de facto art gallery.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe students love it. He\u2019ll take the energy from the class and just put it on the canvas. Then after every class all the students sign the back of the painting,\u201d McDermott said.\u00a0\u201cAll the walls are covered with paintings he\u2019s done during classes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Jesse T. Leach poses for a portrait on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at Souljah Wellness on East State Street in downtown Rockford. He\u2019ll take on a 72-hour live-painting challenge there at the end of the month. (Photo by Kevin Haas\/Rock River Current)<\/p>\n

Rockford has seen events before that blend art and endurance challenge. In 2024, Rockford native\u00a0Bob Schlehuber<\/a> locked himself in an 8-by-16 foot isolation room for 72 hours with no phone, no internet, no books, journals or outside communication. The artistic mental endurance challenge was designed to raise awareness about the affects of loneliness on mental health.<\/p>\n

Artist Chris Geebus said he took on a 72-hour live-painting challenge several years ago before the onset of the pandemic. Geebus did the event from his home, although he livestreamed portions on Facebook.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe transition from night into day and day into night were the hardest parts to go over because those were the times where I would be reminded the most that time was passing,\u201d Geebus said. \u201cThe hardest challenges were trying to stay focused and not focused at the same time.\u201d<\/p>\n

At the end, Geebus said there was an adrenaline rush that had him ask himself whether he could\u2019ve gone longer. But in the lead-up he said he had to prepare himself like an athlete would for competition.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think people realize how physical art actually is for people: standing for hours or being bent at a certain angle or holding yourself in weird positions,\u201d Geebus said. \u201cI think it\u2019s that same concept that a lot of athletes do with how far can you challenge yourself in doing this form.\u201d<\/p>\n

Leach was inspired into live painting by Roni Golan<\/a>, a collaborative live painter and owner of The Underground Gallery, 418 E. State St. Leach started working for Golan as an assistant eight years ago, and today he considers Golan a mentor.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe creating process is just to learn. It\u2019s not to create an object. The object in the end is just a side effect,\u201d Golan said of live painting. \u201cI told (Leach) to just create as much as he can because it\u2019s a tool to learn. To do anything he thinks he can\u2019t do, is the one thing he should be doing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Golan said pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone is exactly what artists should do.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf it\u2019s a challenge, do it,\u201d Golan said. \u201cIf it\u2019s something that is comfortable and it\u2019s easy, don\u2019t do it. Don\u2019t waste your life on it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Info | Don\u2019t Sleep on Leach<\/p>\n

When: 8 a.m. Friday, July 31 to 8 a.m. Monday, Aug. 3<\/p>\n

Where: Souljah Wellness<\/a>, 412 E. State St., Rockford<\/p>\n

\"\"Jesse T. Leach is pictured Tuesday, July 14, 2026, inside Souljah Wellness in downtown Rockford, where he\u2019ll take on a 72-hour live-painting challenge later this month. (Photo by Kevin Haas\/Rock River Current)<\/p>\n

This article is by\u00a0Kevin Haas<\/a>. Email him at\u00a0khaas@rockrivercurrent.com<\/a>\u00a0or follow him on X at\u00a0@KevinMHaas\u00a0<\/a>or Instagram\u00a0@thekevinhaas<\/a>\u00a0and Threads\u00a0@thekevinhaas<\/a><\/p>\n