| Motor racing enthusiast to host exhibition |
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| Thursday, 07 August 2008 | |
 AN 84-YEAR-old Marino man is preparing to host an exhibition of his artwork this month.Terence Balance’s work will be on show at the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre from August 18-31. Remarkably, the Northside senior citizen only began painting 14 years ago - watercolour scenes from old car races - following the death of his brother in 1984. Terence’s brother had been a talented illustrator with Motoring Life magazine but he never realised the talent ran in the family. “I have been a racing enthusiast since I saw my first race in the Phoenix Park when I was a 10-year-old boy,” Terence told Northside People. “But I only started painting after my brother passed away in the 80s. “Going back over the years, the first ones I did were very crude; it took a while to get to the standard I’m at now. “I am really looking forward to being able to exhibit my work and I want as many people as possible to see and enjoy my paintings. “It’s great that the exhibition is taking place in the Phoenix Park, the original home of racing in Ireland and where I have my first memories of watching cars zoom past.” An avid photographer in his younger days, Terence has more recently overcome medical problems, including a triple bypass, thanks to his enthusiasm for life and love of motor racing. The cars Terence paints are from the earliest periods in motor racing, around 1905–1950, when the sport first came to Ireland and places like Phoenix Park and Stradbally, County Laois, were used as tracks. As racing on public roads was illegal at the time, Ireland would play host to some of the biggest names in the sport. Terence said he prefers the old style cars to modern Formula One models which all have the same shape. “I have no interest in Formula One myself,” he stated. “All the cars look the same and the circuits aren’t really challenging enough. “They look like scalextric tracks these days. In the early days cars would race between villages and there was a huge element of risk involved. To me that’s the big difference. “I draw all my cars from old pictures and have to be very careful about getting the details just right. “I have access to records at the Royal Irish Automobile Club library to help keep my paintings accurate. “Some people can be very specific so I don’t want people picking out flaws in my work.” Terence’s exhibition will feature the early years of motor racing, most notably the Gordon Bennett race in 1903 that was won by Camille Jenatzy in a Mercedes 60. “There were also the glorious years 1929, 1930 and 1931 when three great meetings attracted the world’s greatest drivers to Ireland,” added Terence. “Unfortunately, due to economic conditions of the day, financial support for motor racing could not be sustained and it was left to the enthusiasts to keep the sport alive.” Terence’s main intention is to include paintings of local drivers, as he doubts if any of them were included in drawings, something he hopes his exhibition will help to redress. Terence’s five children and his wife, Kitty, are thrilled at this great opportunity for him to exhibit his work. His son, John, is inviting all members of the public to attend what promises to be a rare and interesting event. “I am thrilled to see my Dad’s work being exhibited like this,” John said. “He deserves it after everything he has been through. “I would urge everyone to go along to see these wonderful watercolour recreations of famous racing moments at the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre.” |
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North Dublin Publications, 80-83 Omni Park, Santry, Dublin 9. Phone 8621611 | Fax 8621625/6
Developed by Kevin Flynn