John Baldessari's "California Map Project" from 1969 is an inventive exploration of geography, perception, and conceptual art. In this work, Baldessari embarked on a creative journey across the state of California, identifying the geographic locations that corresponded to the letters in "California" on a state map. At each of these locations, he created or found physical representations of each letter, either by arranging objects such as rocks to form the letters or by discovering natural formations or existing structures that resembled them. This project is often celebrated for its innovative blend of land art, conceptualism, and the use of the California landscape as both a canvas and a medium.

Baldessari's approach to this project was both literal and imaginative, translating the abstract, two-dimensional representation of a map into the tangible, three-dimensional world. This act of translation questioned the accuracy and objectivity of maps, highlighting the subjective and creative aspects of cartography and geography. By physically marking the landscape with the name it represents on a map, Baldessari blurred the lines between representation and reality, map and territory, art and environment.

The "California Map Project" is reflective of Baldessari's broader artistic concerns with language, semiotics, and the interplay between text and image. His work often involved the use of found photography, appropriated images, and text to challenge conventional boundaries and definitions of art. This project, in particular, showcased his interest in the arbitrary and constructed nature of systems of rules, whether in language, games, or art itself. It also demonstrated his innovative use of photography not just as a means of documentation but as an integral part of the conceptual framework of his art.

The "California Map Project" stands as a pivotal work in Baldessari's oeuvre and in the history of conceptual and land art. It exemplifies his ability to engage with and transform the landscape through the lens of conceptual art, creating works that are as thought-provoking as they are visually compelling​ (The Art Institute of Chicago)​​ (The CSPA)​​ (Wikipedia)​.