Tony Vera Donates $10,000 to Launch Teena Maria Mural Project - Painting By Rip Cronk

Last night Tony Vera, Rip Cronk and the building owner of 1902 Pacific Ave. met at Danny’s Deli where Tony presented Rip with a $10,000 check for the painting of the Teena Maria mural on the building at 1902 Pacific Ave. The project has been a dream of Tony’s for many years. The project will commemorate Teena’s history in Venice Beach with a mural of her standing and playing the guitar. It will feature a “star” with Teena’s name, a dedication to Teena by Tony and Mike Tyson, and will also feature language reflecting the Teena Marie Bill which is legislation Teena fought for resulting in making it mandatory that record companies compensate artists for their time under contract.
Tony reflected that the evening was part of a vision that he has had for a long time. Tony, Rip and Alan Ruzicka spent part of the evening discussing the features of the mural which will add a distinctive companion flair to many of Rip Cronks other Venice murals which include Abbot Kinney, Jim Morrison and the many faces and celebrities that adorn the interior walls of Danny’s Deli. “Like the Jim Morrison mural, I expect this mural to have a life well past 20 years,” said Rip.
Ravi, and many other legendary Venice residents joined the dinner party through the evening reflecting on decades of Venice residents and tales. It was a great time.
Preparation on the building is beginning immediately, and pending the draft ordinance that was given the green light to move forward yesterday regarding murals on private property in the city of LA - the painting of the mural will begin. Here’s the video from last night!