Katharen Wiese is a multidisciplinary artist from Lincoln, NE, residing in New Haven, Connecticut. She holds a B.F.A. in Studio Art from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln (2018) and an MFA from Yale University (2024).  Wiese is a Community-Engaged Teaching Fellow at the University of New Haven.

Dev is a Senior Apprentice at the Eli Whitney Museum and Workshop, and has been in the program for four years. In his free time he likes to play guitar, ski, and bake for his friends and family. Dev is super excited to help instruct Water Works camp this summer!

Eleanor Schlabs is a junior at Hamden High School and has been an apprentice since her freshman year. In her spare time, she enjoys going on runs, hiking, and spending time in nature with her friends and family. As well, Eleanor loves being a goalkeeper for both her lacrosse and soccer team. She also likes playing the flute and creating music for fun in her time off. She’s looking forward to a fun and creative 2026 summer at Eli Whitney! 

Christopher Wigren is the Deputy Director of Preservation Connecticut and author of Connecticut Architecture: Stories of 100 Places. This is his fifth year helping lead a camp at EWMW. 

Leo Smolinski is a high school senior attending both James Hillhouse High School and ACES Educational Center for the Arts in New Haven. He has been an apprentice at the Eli Whitney Museum for four years. Leo is a mixed-media artist who explores film, painting, clothing design and textile arts. He is very excited to debut his fashion work in the Rescued Runway. He has been an apprentice at the Eli Whitney Museum & Workshop for 5 years. 

RACHEL ALDERMAN (Director, Teaching Artist) (she/her) is a director, producer and co-creator of theater experiences - fiercely committed to building ensemble onstage and off. Rachel has held senior leadership positions at Long Wharf Theatre and Hartford Stage, and she is a founding ensemble member of the award-winning A Broken Umbrella Theatre with whom she has collectively devised original, site-specific theater inspired by the history of New Haven, CT.