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Plato is often quoted as the first to say, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” Whoever uttered the words would understand the contest I’ve been running for the past few weeks to name the best painted utility boxes in San Jose. Now it’s time for readers to go online to pick the winners.

The painting of the drab gray utility boxes, known as “art boxes” once adorned, might be one of the very best things to happen in San Jose over the past few years. It’s brought an explosion of color and whimsy to our streets.

In my contest, I divided nominations from readers into three categories — the most eye-catching, personal favorites and the box that best brightens a difficult corner.

If you need shorthand for those categories, “eye-catching” means the vibrancy and color of the box. “Personal favorites” is a general category that can encompass a story or the setting. And brightening a difficult corner? It should explain itself.

I got nearly 40 nominations, mostly from neighborhood people who have quietly adopted the boxes on their walks or commutes. Three eminent judges — OK, some folks I know and trust — then went through the nominations to pick the finalists.

The next job is up to you, dear reader: It’s time to think inside the box. If you go to www.mercurynews.com/scott-herhold, you’ll have a chance to vote for the winners. We should have three of them — one for each category.

Before I describe the finalists, let me add this note: I’m convinced I only touched the surface. If you go to Facebook and type in the words “art box sj,” you’ll see even more wonderful decorated boxes. You can find a map of the boxes at www.goo.gl/FJe78R.

Finally, as always, thanks should go to Tina Morrill, the volunteer extraordinaire who began the project and puts together donors with the artists who paint the boxes. The donor puts up $250 to defray the artist’s time and expense.

Here’s a breakdown of the finalists, with only a moderate foot on the scale from your columnist:

EYE-CATCHING — San Jose Councilman Pierluigi Oliverio, who has done more than any other elected official to further the art box project, says one of his favorites is the Egyptian-themed box across from the Rosicrucian Museum, near Park and Naglee avenues in the Rose Garden area of San Jose.

You can see why: The various symbols painted by artist Michelle Waters fit neatly with the museum. And they are colorful in their own right — a parade of hieroglyphics next to a white-clad Egyptian figure carrying three tulips.

The Rosicrucian box — I’ll call it that — faces competition from two others: One is the “Taiko Cat” — of Japantown, a box by Yurika Chiba at Seventh and Taylor streets that shows a rotund cat drumming happily. “Our whole family loves ‘Taiko Cat,’ ” said Cyndi Sakuma, who nominated it. Fish adorn a thinner box nearby.

The last entrant is a colorful Native American box outside the Indian Health Center at 13th and Santa Clara streets. Painted by artist Mona Lemon and nominated by Kathy Richmond, it offers a connection to the center and a collage of Southwestern color.

PERSONAL FAVORITES — Debbie Palmer, who lives in northern Willow Glen, adores the art box near Bird and Coe avenues done by former Mercury News cartoonist Scott Willis. Willis has done a “birds in a car” — theme, a nice pun that includes a Harley eagle and the palm trees of Palm Haven.

“It never ceases to make me smile,” says Palmer, who notes the “eggmobile” delivery truck and the minivan with the mom-bird driving a bunch of gape-mouthed chicks.

When I tried to persuade Palmer to offer other suggestions, she declined. But there is another popular and very strong entrant from Willow Glen — the art box of the jazz ensemble on Lincoln Avenue near Willow Street. Painted by Micah Bariteau and recommended again by Oliverio, the box has a hip but Old World feel that fits the street.

The last finalist is the coyote on the box at Silver Creek Valley Road and Coyote road in the southwestern edge of San Jose. Done by artist Claudia Cornish and nominated by San Josean Tony Gaechter, it reminds us of the abundance of wildlife in San Jose.

BRIGHTENING A BAD CORNER — Bonnie Ross, an attorney with the law firm of Robinson & Wood, has always been bothered by the sterility of the intersection at Market and St. James streets, next to the civil courthouse. The traffic can make it feel like the continuation of the freeway. And it can take forever to cross the street.

Knowing that a new courthouse would be going up just north of the spot, Ross set upon the idea of trying to introduce the courts to people new to the legal system.

“People who have to come to court are very nervous,” she told me. “So I thought it was important that we have some welcoming token that showed all sorts of different people being on a jury and being a part of the process.”

Done by artist David Mejia, the box nicely conveys that message of diversity — though there are no recognizable San Jose lawyers or judges. Full disclosure: This one is a house nomination from the Mercury News.

The judicial box, however, has strong competition from a colorful art box on Julian Street just west of Stockton Avenue, near the underpass leading to the SAP arena. Sponsored by Billy DeFrank LGBGT Community Center and funded by Supervisor Ken Yeager and Jon Snell, this box honors the 1980s gay movement on Stockton.

Artist Marcus Anthony Cota, who rode his bike from the East Side to do the work, has created a stunning mix of creatures — butterflies, caterpillars, snails, cats, bees, etc. “This box defiantly deserves some shout-out,” said coordinator Rick Bernard, who nominated it. We agree.

Contact Scott Herhold at 408-275-0917 or sherhold@mercurynews.com. Twitter.com/scottherhold.