Nature’s beauty is complemented by beauty created by human hands within the UT Gardens. The upright carved slabs, or ‘stele’ of Tennessee marble were originally part of the ‘Tennessee One Ton Show’ an event hosted by the South Knoxville Heritage Center in 2003. Eventually the pieces came to be permanently displayed in the UT Gardens for greater public exposure. Many of the metal sculptures are projects fabricated by UT advanced sculpture students as part of their studio coursework. A partnership with the Dogwood Arts Festival ‘Art in Public Places’ program has led to an annual display of a piece selected from a national search. The four whimsical, brightly colored pieces by the entrance plaza and around the Children’s Garden are on loan from celebrated local artist Gwendy Kerney. Of course, there is also Smokey the bluetick hound mascot on the plaza. He is one of ten Smokey sculptures on UT campus celebrating the ten hounds who have served as the mascot since 1953.