100-Foot Sea Serpent Surfaces in Golden Gate Park
Burning Man Sculpture Begins New Life in Rainbow Falls Pond
Naga headed to Golden Gate Park 7/10/25
San Francisco, CA — This week, a mythic creature begins to surface in the heart of Golden Gate Park. A radiant, 100-foot-long, 25-foot-tall sea serpent named Naga—first unveiled at Burning Man 2024—is now being installed in Rainbow Falls Pond along the beloved JFK Promenade on San Francisco’s Golden Mile. When completed next week, it will be the largest public art installation in park history.
Created by artists Cjay Roughgarden, Stephanie Shipman, and Jacquelyn Scott, Naga & The Captainess is more than a sculpture—it’s an immersive, community-powered experience. The project has been brought to life through a partnership with arts nonprofit Illuminate and visionary leadership of the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, whose senior staff and on-the-ground operations teams have enabled this complex aquatic installation to become reality. Critical initial support was provided by the Sijbrandij Foundation and operational partner Building 180.
Naga’s body is adorned with over 5,000 hand-forged, iridescent scales, glows with internal light, and—on occasion—playfully blows bubbles from his nose. Constructed by more than 250 volunteers, the installation pulses with the spirit of generosity and shared creativity.
A Dream Built by Many Hands
While Naga will soon animate the waters of Rainbow Falls Pond with color, light, and whimsy, the full vision of Naga & The Captainess is still unfolding. The next chapter includes a sculptural shipwreck seating area and interactive treasure chests, and a watery street mural, designed to invite curiosity, connection, and imaginative play for people of all ages.
“We want this to be a space where people gather, linger, and dream,” said Stephanie Shipman, co-creator of the installation. “We’ve been overwhelmed by the support of the city, the volunteers, and the entire park community.”
Installing a monumental work of art in an active pond is no easy feat. It has required deep coordination, creative engineering, and the steadfast dedication of dozens of civic, technical, and volunteer teams.
“We do this not because it is easy, but because it is difficult,” said Ben Davis, founder of Naga’s presenting nonprofit, Illuminate, which helped catalyze the placement of Naga in Rainbow Falls Pond. “Thousands of hands and hearts have touched Naga. That sense of generosity, love, and shared purpose is what truly shines from the work.”
Funding Update – Help Carry Us Home
The budget for preparing and installing Naga in the pond is $400,000, and more than 80% has already been raised through major philanthropic gifts. Now, organizers are inviting the public to help close the final gap—just under $55,000—to complete the vision and ensure the all-female artistic team is fully paid.
A crowdfunding site has been established to raise funds for this massive undertaking.
Artist’s rendering of Naga & The Captainess along JFK Promenade at Rainbow Falls Pond.
Naga, experienced in the dust of Burning Man 2024.
Opening Receptions – Media Welcome
Welcome Naga! Family-Friendly Celebration
What: Mermaid Parade, Landlubber Jibber-Jabber, and More!
When: Saturday, July 26, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Where: Rainbow Falls Pond, JFK Promenade, Golden Gate Park
Naga Grand Lighting – Grown-Up Edition
What: Music, Dancing, and More Landlubber Jibber-Jabber
When: Monday, July 28, 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM
Where: Rainbow Falls Pond, JFK Promenade, Golden Gate Park
Press Assets Available
Burning Man visuals: Instagram @naga_and_the_captainess
Burning Man Installation Photos: www.nagaandthecaptainess.com/gallery
Media kit: Media Kit
Artist Website: www.cjayroughgarden.com
Illuminate Visuals: IG
About the Collaborators
Cjay Roughgarden is an Oakland-based architectural metal artist and lead fabricator of Naga.
Stephanie Shipman and Jacquelyn Scott are Bay Area artists who lead the Captainess elements of the installation.
The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department manages more than 235 parks, playgrounds, and open spaces across San Francisco, including Sharp Park in Pacifica and Camp Mather in the High Sierras.
Illuminate is a San Francisco-based nonprofit arts organization that rallies large groups of people to create impossible works of public art that, through awe, free humanity’s better nature. Illuminate’s mission is to produce contemporary art with civic impact, social activation, and global reach—fostering a culture of generosity and collaboration.
Media Contact
David Hatfield
Illuminate
david@illuminate.org
415-200-6578
