About John Baumann

John Baumann has participated in Fieldwork workgroups since 1995 and became a facilitator in 2005. Originally from Oswego, NY, he began to make solo pieces at The Marsh in San Francisco’s Mission District in the mid-90s. He joined the board of The Field Bay Area in 1995. In 1998, he and Jennifer Gwirtz were match-made by the facilitators of the Fieldwork workgroup in which they participated. They began a lifelong collaboration that continues today. In 1999 they co-founded Right Brain Performancelab, which created experimental physical and dance theater for two decades. Described by Nicole Gluckstern of the SF Bay Guardian as creating a “quirkily cerebral brand of performance art,” Gwirtz and Baumann assembled like-minded artists to create full length works for the stage, site specific and alternative venues that speak fluent performance art in the style of circus, with the occasional ballet reference and enthusiastic nods towards traditional western theater forms. In 2005 they took over as co-executive directors of The Field Bay Area. 

In their two decades of making strange and wonderful things, Baumann & Gwirtz performed at many venues in the Bay Area, including ODC Theater, CounterPULSE, NOHspace, Dance Mission, The Jewish Theater, Shawl-Anderson Dance Center, in private homes and site-specific locations.  

Gwirtz and Baumann moved to Portland, OR in 2016 where they started a new Fieldwork chapter as part of their philosophy of living. They co-facilitate regular workgroups at The Tiny Theater PDX and other Portland venues.