Naga Makes its Splashy Debut  

A mythical creature has risen in Golden Gate Park, but we still need your help to stay above water

Naga, a radiant, 100-foot-long, 25-foot-tall sea serpent first unveiled at Burning Man 2024, was officially installed in July along the beloved JFK Promenade on San Francisco’s Golden Mile. It is largest public art installation in park history.

Brought to life by artists Cjay Roughgarden, Stephanie Shipman and Jacquelyn Scott - and hundreds of volunteers - Naga inhabits the tranquil waters of Rainbow Falls Pond, at the western end of the car-free Golden Mile in Golden Gate Park. 

Over 80% of the budget has already been raised towards the $400,000 needed to complete the project, but to fully realize the vision of the artists who created Naga, we need your help. Ongoing maintenance and an ambitious program to delight vistors with bubbles from Naga's nose require continued support. 

Naga is a partnership with the artists, non-profit Illuminate, the Sijbrandij Foundation and operational partner Building 180, and the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department. Simply put, creating a monumental sculpture in a public park is a massive undertaking. This nearly two-year migration from Burning Man to GGP required artistic genius, extraordinary engineering feats, ongoing civic cooperation, financial support and a vast community of talented and generous souls.

We need your support now. Every gift counts.

Naga Facts:

• Naga’s head is 22 feet tall, and his tail reaches 24 feet
• He’s covered in over 5,000 hand-forged, iridescent scales
• He’s illuminated from within—and blows bubbles from his nose
• Built by 250+ volunteers over thousands of hours
• Installed in Rainbow Falls Pond, beneath a cascading manmade waterfall and surrounded by lush parkland About Naga & the Captainess

Naga is the vision of Oakland-based artist Cjay Roughgarden, inspired by her favorite childhood book, Cyrus the Unsinkable Sea Serpent . Along with fellow artists Stephanie Shipman and Jacquelyn Scott, the three women inspired their community of friends to rally together to create Naga & The Captainess for Burning Man 2024, where the work received a Burning Man Honorarium Award and captivated tens of thousands of viewers.

Through the dedication and resources of amazing donors big and small, they were able to execute a $3.1M build, with a tenth of the budget. Over 200 volunteers of all ages, from young kids to retirees, participated in the joy of making art. An estimated 35,000 labor hours were invested in bringing this immersive experience to Burning Man, always with the dream of bringing it to the general public.

Volunteers were given opportunities to learn welding, carpentry, calligraphy, set design, casting, book binding, and many more artisan skills. Fans and followers learned about the historical time period of the 1700s through Odd Salon historical talks, sea shanties, and other presentations from crew members.