The nature of Sudeikiai region, Lake Alaušas and serenity attracts tourists wishing to relax in a rural tourism homestead. The cosy and convenient environment for working and relaxing attracts artists. This region hosts annual artist plain-airs — Alaušas 99 painting plain-air, which took place in 1999, became a traditional fiesta of modern art.
Plain-airs make one of the forms of the town’s cultural life: the events taking place during the plain-air gather the local community and generate new ideas. These events, taking place for already eighteen years, influence youth and pupils.
During these plain-airs Sudeikiai becomes a kingdom of art. The hands of professional artists reach for paint and canvas in order to express their inner emotions in colour, thus perpetuating light on canvas. The participants of Alaušas plain-air transfer all the beauties, subtleties, sounds and colours of Sudeikiai on canvas. Artists’ relation with nature has always been and will continue to be important.
The pieces of art, exhibited in Sudeikiai, attract not only locals, but also tourists and guests.
The aesthetic value of these plain-airs is obvious and very important: the gathering of artists in Sudeikiai, their interaction with each other and the locals create a good atmosphere, felt by all participants of the creative process: both the creators and observers. In 18 years Sudeikiai plain-airs were participated by more than 130 artists from Lithuania and other countries of the world: 110 painters, 6 sculptors and 5 photo artists. The plain-airs of painters, sculptors and photo artists were participated by 125 artists, including 114 painters, 6 sculptors and 5 photo artists.
Aside from the invaluable spiritual values, these plain-airs also produce other treasures that are difficult to set a price on: pieces of art.
The works, created during the plain-airs decorate the modest gallery of Sudeikiai. A visit to this gallery enables to stop the time and enjoy the abundance of colours, harmony, rhythms, lines and brushstrokes.
The main organisers of Alaušas plain-air are Lina and Virgilijus Gaižauskai. In 2012 they were awarded with the honorary membership at the Lithuanian Artists’ Association for promotion of professional art. The organisers of Alaušas plain-air had also received gratitude from the Ministry of Culture and the Government of the Republic of Lithuania for their cultural merits.