West Star & Stone Reopens Affi Bunker With New Art Exhibit

A public exhibition will open in the former NATO base “West Star” in Affi from September 7 to 27, 2026, with “West Star & Stone – From Rock to Form,” a show focused on sculpture and stone design. The event is promoted by the Municipality of Affi and AS.MA.VE. Consorzio Marmisti Veronesi, and marks the first public use of the base’s tunnel as part of the site’s recovery and enhancement project.

The exhibition follows a state funding allocation of €7 million for the decontamination and future museum use of West Star. According to the municipality, the show is an early step in returning the complex to the public after the site was recognized for its cultural value and after years of institutional work. The route runs for about 300 meters through the main gallery, combining documentary panels, archival photos and historical materials on the base’s construction, Cold War role and subsequent decommissioning with contemporary stone works and a concluding section on modern design and the evolution of stone craftsmanship.

The display includes sculptures by Sergio Capellini, Matteo Cavaioni, Gabriele Gottoli, Alessandro Guardini, Dario Marconi, Luciano Padovani and Oscar Sandri, alongside works by students from local training and art schools, including San Zeno vocational training, Paolo Brenzoni art school and the University of Verona’s Academy of Fine Arts. The design section features contributions from companies in the Verona stone sector, with support from the Province of Verona and the patronage of the Chamber of Commerce of Verona.
Italian Version