Which came first: the chicken or the egg? Gordon’s The Rooster and The Egg is a humorous spin on this age-old question, introducing the paradox of the egg being much larger than the rooster. This captivating sculpture is located at the North Entrance of the Culinary Institute of America’s Hyde Park, NY campus, selected as one of the “56 Prettiest College Campuses in America” by Condé Nast Traveler.

Prominently positioned atop the central pier of the North Entrance gate, The Rooster and The Egg – each made of bronze, the rooster featuring a distinct patina – is accompanied by a meticulously crafted nest, fashioned from various sizes of curved metal rods by artisans at Gordon Huether Studio, based in Napa, CA. After Gordon came up with the concept, we worked closely with the talented team at Artworks Foundry in Berkeley to create the cast bronze rooster and egg and apply the distinctive patinas.

The symbolism of the rooster and egg is multifaceted – as the guardian of the gateway to campus, the rooster signals that you have arrived at a very special place, one that revolves around the celebration of food and nutrition. As nature’s alarm clock, the rooster reminds us that each new day is full of promise and possibilities. In French cuisine, the rooster is the star of Coq au Vin, one of France’s classic recipes. And, in the Chinese practice of feng shui, the rooster is an auspicious symbol with connotations of prosperity, good luck, and for professional and career protection, the perfect mix of blessings for aspiring chefs.

The trio of rooster, egg and nest measures 7 feet from nest to wingtips. Unadorned, the gate’s central pier is an impressive 12-foot 10-inches, and with the addition of the sculpture, makes for a striking addition to the campus’s entrance.