Serving chicago’s Creative and educational communities with a passion for Art and reuse

Our People

TEAM MEMBERS

Eleanor Ray (she/her) Founder and Executive Director of The WasteShed. She discovered creative reuse as an installation and costume artist, and developed her ideas in the nurturing environment of SCRAP PDX. She was also General Manager of the Creative Reuse Warehouse, and spearheaded their collaboration with the ReBuilding Exchange before founding The WasteShed in 2014. She has a BA in Art History from Reed College.

Isa Vázquez (she/her) Director of Finance and Operations. Isa loves to tinker with found objects to create custom furniture, lamps and accessories. After years of working in audio production making radio and podcasts, she discovered the simple beauty of spreadsheets and hasn’t looked back. She has skated and traveled the country for a decade with the Windy City Rollers. She loves working in a community-oriented space that supports Chicagoland’s endless creativity.

Ulisa Blakely (they/she) Director of Programs and Development. Their favorite mediums are paper (zines, collage, paper clay, etc.), digital/graphic design, text and audio. They love thinking, building bikes, and hanging with their cats—Kobe Bryant and Kamper Slime. Their favorite part of working at The WasteShed is communing with local artists and feeling a part of a creative and conscious community. Ulisa has a MA in Composition from Northeastern Illinois University.

Rose Corr (she/they) Chicago General Manager. Rose dabbles in a variety of media but her true passion is oil painting on wood panels, LARGE! She brings 15 years of experience and knowledge gained working at Seattle's largest art supply store, Artist & Craftsman Supply. She understands the value that arts and crafts bring to a neighborhood, and is excited to nurture and maintain those relationships in your community.

Emily Prescott (she/her) Evanston General Manager. Emily loves applied art mediums like quilting, sewing textiles/fiber art, ceramics, printmaking, and anything that gives her Big Craft Thoughts/Feelings. She has a MA in Arts Education and loves helping people to engage with art + crafts in meaningful ways. She also enjoys getting to work with interesting materials, help folks out with their projects, and participate in creative community building at The WasteShed.

Luis Soto (he/him) Creative Reuse Specialist. His favorite medium of art is printmaking, such as screen printing, xeroxing, relief printing, and Risography. He loves working at the WasteShed because of the chance to be able to meet such talented artists in the local community and to provide resources to teachers, students, and artists alike.

Earl Mitchell (they/them) Creative Reuse Specialist. Their favorite medium is sewing/ quilting as well as acrylic & oil painting. Their favorite part about working at The WasteShed is getting to know members of the community and seeing what creative endeavors everyone is working on.

Frank Pollard (he/him) Creative Reuse Specialist. His favorite media are sculpture and photography. His art incorporates upcycled materials into miniature worlds. And he loves helping others to find that perfect piece needed for their projects.

Cameron Pentimone (they/them) Creative Reuse Specialist. Their favorite mediums are watercolor, pen and ink, printmaking (specifically mono printing), and photography. Their favorite part about working at The WasteShed is seeing how inspired and creative community members of all ages become when they visit.

Thanks also to Anna Jo Beck for creating The WasteShed's website and print materials.