Ellen Buie Niewyk served as curator of Bywaters Special Collections in the Hamon Arts Library at Southern Methodist University for almost 34 years until her retirement in July 2021. She became assistant curator of the Jerry Bywaters Collection on Art of the Southwest in 1987 and three years later was appointed curator of Bywaters Special Collections in the newly constructed Hamon Arts Library. For the next three decades Ellen and Dr. Sam Ratcliffe curated exhibitions for the Hawn Gallery. While at SMU, Ellen wrote the book Jerry Bywaters – Lone Star Printmaker, and was the recipient of the CASETA Publication Award in 2008. In addition, she was involved in establishing several SMU digital websites highlighting Texas artists including Texas Artists:  Paintings, Sculpture, and Works on Paper and Bywaters Special Collections:  Texas Artists Archives. Ellen’s new retirement job will be serving as a board member for the Texas Art Collectors Organization [TACO] and working in her jewelry studio studying ancient and contemporary metal techniques.  

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  Jerry Bywaters
  Election Day in Balmorhea, 1938
  Lithograph
  Bywaters Special Collections, Hamon Arts Library, Southern Methodist University.
  Gift of Richard P. Bywaters
  JB.86.1
  Image courtesy of Bywaters Special Collections