CJAY ROUGHGARDEN - “NAGA & THE CAPTAINESS”

Originally unveiled at Burning Man and now installed in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, Naga & the Captainess is a monumental sculpture that tells a sweeping story of transformation, resilience, and imagination. Designed by artists Cjay Roughgarden, Stephanie Shipman, and Jacquelyn Scott and brought to life by a team of over 250 volunteers, the 100-foot-long sea serpent emerges from Rainbow Falls in shimmering layers of hand-formed aluminum scales.

Seaport Stainless was proud to support this ambitious build by laser cutting thousands of aluminum scales, as well as the fins and structural brackets. Each piece was meticulously shaped by the artists’ team of volunteers, which gave the sculpture its distinctive texture and motion. Our role required a balance of precision and scalability to produce large quantities of clean, consistent parts that could hold up to the hands-on shaping process and the demands of a long-term outdoor installation.

Now a permanent fixture in Golden Gate Park, Naga & the Captainess is a striking example of what’s possible when artistry, community, and craftsmanship come together.