The 1970s marked a significant phase in John Baldessari's career, characterized by his deep exploration into conceptual art and a departure from traditional painting. This period is underscored by two pivotal works: "I Will Not Make Any More Boring Art" (1971) and the "Cremation Project" (1970), both of which encapsulate his critical and humorous interrogation of art's conventions and his own artistic practice. "I Will Not Make Any More Boring Art" emerges as a lithograph filled with the titular vow repeated in a script reminiscent of a school punishment, symbolizing a critique of the art world and the repetitive nature of traditional art education and creation. This piece was preceded by an audacious act of renunciation known as the "Cremation Project" in 1970, where Baldessari burned all the paintings he had created between 1953 and 1966. The ashes were stored in an urn, accompanied by a plaque, documenting the destruction and rebirth of his artistic identity. This act served as a conceptual pivot from his earlier works to a new form of art-making, emphasizing the ephemeral and conceptual over the physical and traditional. During the 1970s, Baldessari continued to challenge and redefine art through works that juxtaposed text with images, often employing humor and irony to critique the art world's conventions and the viewer's expectations. His engagement with language and imagery, particularly through the use of found photographs and appropriated images, questioned the boundaries between art and life, and the role of the artist in the creative process. Through these works, Baldessari explored the idea that art resides not just in the physical creation but in the concept and execution, leading to a broader questioning of where the essence of art truly lies. Baldessari's contributions in the 1970s solidified his position as a key figure in conceptual art, influencing subsequent generations of artists with his innovative approach to art-making and his critical engagement with the art world's norms. His work from this period remains a testament to his intellectual rigor and his playful yet profound interrogation of the nature of art​ (The Art Story)​​ (Wikipedia)​​ (Lumen Learning)​.