Cherie became interested in California art after getting acquainted with a neighbor who gave her a painting done by renowned Santa Paula artist Douglas Shively. Cherie then began seeking out and collecting paintings of early 20th century California.
“When Nedderman died unexpectedly in January of 2019 during a relatively common heart procedure, her brother Ted Nedderman and his wife, Nancy, of Gig Harbor, Washington, were shocked and heartbroken.
It now fell to Ted and Nancy to find a home for Cherie’s precious collection of 58 “en plein air” or “outdoor” paintings of Southern California done between 1905 and 1965. The Neddermans decided CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) would be ideal.
Faculty members from the Art program were thrilled to receive the collection, not only for its quality, but because of the art lover who put it together. Professor of Art History Irina D. Costache, Ph.D., pointed out that Cherie was not a high-end collector who really didn’t understand the paintings. She was a savvy collector who understood the paintings.
Costache is excited about the collection both as an art historian and an educator.
“This is also a great teaching collection, which our students will be able to study up-close and learn how to examine original works of art, conduct research and write catalog entries,” Costache said. “It’s great for students to learn from actual works of art not reproductions.”
Costache said the collection contains several women artists who were somewhat unknown at the time as women artists were not taken as seriously then.
The Neddermans believe Cherie would be happy with the collection’s new home.
