In October 2011, when the university was about to open the Winton Guest House at the Gainey Conference Center in Owatonna, Greg Vandegrift and Brad Jacobsen released "Moving the Art," a documentary about the three-year process of dismantling, moving and reassembling the house designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry.
Vandegrift (Communication and Journalism) wrote and narrated the piece while Jacobsen (Web and Media Services) filmed, edited and produced more than five hours of footage down to an 11-minute video package that has been nominated for an Upper Midwest Regional Emmy.
Jacobsen and Vandegrift are nominated alongside Twin Cities Public Television and the online magazine The Flightline in the Historic/Cultural/Nostalgic category.
As a journalist turned professor, Vandegrift has received regional Emmy nominations on a consistent basis dating back to the 1990s. He has won in categories such as writing news, health-science programs, and both hard and soft feature programs. This nomination is particularly meaningful because of its scope. "I have been reporting and producing stories since 1984," he said. "Never before have I worked on a project that spanned this amount of time. It required focus and persistence."
Jacobsen is nominated for a second time, having won in 2009 along with St. Thomas staffers Dave Nimmer and Doug Hennes for a piece they produced for the Opus Prize. Even though this is not his first nomination, it means just as much to be recognized among some of the best broadcasters in the region. "They are very good," he said of the other nominees in the category. "I have enjoyed watching TPT’s 'Lost Twin Cities' series, so to be thought of at that level of production is an honor."
The Emmy awards gala takes place Saturday, Sept. 29. When asked what he might do if they are awarded the Emmy, Jacobsen joked, "I will walk to the stage as fast as I can before they figure out that they made a mistake." As for his feelings on their chances: "It’s just nice to be nominated."
For more information visit the Upper Midwest Emmy Awards.
Watch "Moving the Art," featuring interviews with Art History's Victoria Young, Father Dennis Dease, Penny Winton and Frank Gehry, himself:
