Artists on an upward trajectory
The Chronicle has a long history of covering talent on the rise.
We ran the first listing for a little house band called Jefferson Airplane, and visited struggling comedian Ellen DeGeneres at her Tiburon rental home (the roof was being tarred, and she apologized for the fumes). The Chronicle wrote about the student film from a young transplant from the Central Valley named George Lucas, and covered Tony Kushner even before he broke big with “Angels in America.”
All of the above had something in common: They worked very hard for a very long time to hone their skills, before the mainstream public knew their names.
That’s one through line in our 2017 selections for artists on the brink of fame. We can’t predict with certainty who will or won’t become a household name in 20 years. (Robin Williams was maybe the only sure thing in San Francisco history.) But most of these selections combine the talent to get to the next level, with an impressive work ethic.
It was also refreshing, after asking Chronicle critics to independently come up with picks in their fields, to see a list made up almost entirely of women. Innovative dancer Crystaldawn Bell, research driven visual artists Amanda Hughen and Jennifer Starkweather, hardworking comic Irene Tu and documentarian Erika Cohn were among the selections.
There’s a chance some of these artists may be leaving soon — the path to higher fame in entertainment often passes through New York, Los Angeles or cities abroad. Consider these picks a recommendation to enjoy their work now — and the work of as many young artists as you can fit into your schedule.
Seeing an artist already on top proves you can afford an expensive ticket. Seeing the entire journey is a strong sign that you love and support the arts.