December 13, 2011 > Artist of the Year - Mark Mertens Artist of the Year - Mark Mertens Submitted By Andrew LaMar Senate Majority Leader Ellen M. Corbett (D-San Leandro) will honor her choice for District 10's "Artist of the Year," painter Mark Mertens, with a Tuesday evening reception. The event, to be held from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Castro Valley Library, 3600 Norbridge Ave. in Castro Valley, will feature Mertens' work and include a presentation from Senator Corbett. "I was delighted to select Mark Mertens the district's artist of the year," Corbett said. "Mark has impressed me with his beautiful pastels of the surrounding area. They are stunning renditions of the landscape I love, of the countryside of Castro Valley and the East Bay." As part of the honor, Mertens is displaying his work entitled "Reflected Clouds" at the State Capitol in Sacramento.