A mythic creature has surfaced 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—now lives in Rainbow Falls Pond along the beloved JFK Promenade on San Francisco’s Golden Mile.
Created by artists Cjay Roughgarden, Stephanie Shipman, and Jacquelyn Scott, Naga is more than a sculpture—it’s an immersive, community-powered experience.
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.
Critical initial support was provided by the Sijbrandij Foundation and operational partner Building 180. 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.
Click here to give to the crowdfunding site that has been established to raise funds for this massive undertaking.
About the Artists
Naga is led by three female artists from the Bay Area: Cjay Roughgarden, an artist and architectural metal fabricator, Stephanie Shipman, an expert woodworker and arts educator, and Jacqueline Scott, an award-winning production designer and special FX artisan. The team met while volunteering on collaborative art projects of the East Bay based arts collective ‘Five Ton Crane’, most notably the Raygun Gothic Rocketship (displayed on the Embarcadero in 2010-2012) and The Capitol Theater, which was part of the No Spectator sexhibition at the Smithsonian, as well as the Oakland Museum of California.
Instagram: @naga_and_the_captainess
Cjay Roughgarden
Instagram: @element_26_studio
cjayroughgarden.com
Stephanie Shipman
Instagram: @andibuiltitwithmyvagina
shipmandesigns.com
Jacqueline Scott
Instagram: @jscott117
About the Partner
In 2024, the Big Art Loop began from an unconventional belief: Big Art can be a magnet to attract people, jobs and investments to a city.
After a decade of calling San Francisco home, Sid and Karen Sijbrandij, founders of The Sijbrandij Foundation, saw an opportunity. Through supporting artist residencies in Zambia, Uganda, and Grand Bahama, and founding Art City in New Mexico, they’ve seen how public art invites connection, creates civic pride and brings energy to communities. The Big Art Loop is their bold investment in San Francisco’s future.
Instagram: @bigartloop
Website: bigartloop.org