Dana Ballentine is an educator and guide whose identity has long been rooted in the art of teaching—whether in classrooms or out on the winding, storied trails of Europe. With a deep reverence for experiential learning, Dana has spent years walking ancient paths through Spain, France, Portugal, and Scotland, leading others—young and old—on journeys that blend history, culture, and self-discovery. Her work bridges the worlds of education and pilgrimage, offering those who travel with her not only knowledge of the land but also insight into themselves.

Her next exhibition (date to be announced), is titled: “The Way in Focus: A Photographic and Haiku Journey on the ancient paths of Europe”.

This exhibition, will focus on pilgrimages in Spain, France, Portugal and Scotland with emphasis on the Camino de Santiago, a living pilgrimage walked for over a thousand years, etched into the land by countless footsteps, steeped in history, humility, and human connection. Unlike a vacation, which offers escape, or an adventure, a pilgrimage offers something quieter and more enduring.

Physically, the path challenges the body with sore feet, steep climbs, fatigue, and weathered landscapes, yet rewards with sunrises over distant hills, communal meals, and the strength of perseverance. Emotionally, the Camino strips away distraction and opens the heart—to grief, to joy, to unexpected friendship. Spiritually, it is both solitary and shared—a trail of silence and song, where feathers, stones, and whispered prayers mark the way. It is not about perfection, but presence—it welcomes each traveler, flaws and all. Imperfection becomes a kind of beauty, and flaws are carried not as burdens, but as badges of authenticity. A pilgrimage invites a return to self, to simplicity, and to the rhythm of walking—step by step, breath by breath.

This exhibit pairs photography and haiku to distill the essence of the the Camino’s ever-shifting terrain of light, shadow, and soul. Each image captures a moment stilled in time, and each poem, a breath of insight. Together, they speak to the slow unfolding of truth that walking brings.

As you view this work, may you feel what it means to carry only what matters and to trust the road beneath your feet. May you feel the invitation of the Camino: to walk with intention and to arrive—again and again—into the fullness of the present.