Story of the Week

Polly Frost is a New York author, journalist, and playwright. In 2007 she co-wrote, directed, and produced Sex Scenes, a theater project performed at the Cornelia Street Café and around the country. She also wrote Deep Inside, a collection of satirical sci-fi and horror stories. With her husband, Ray Sawhill, she adapted her story “The Last Artist in New York City” for the stage; it was selected for Best American Short Plays 2008–2009.

Photograph by Erik Kragh.

The Last Artist in New York

Humor

by Polly Frost

WED., MARCH 22, 2017

11:23 AM

My boss, Ellen, yells at me for making a mess of her afternoon schedule. Why can’t she understand how hard it is for me to juggle the seven boring jobs it takes to support myself?

Living in Manhattan as the last artist in New York City: it’s the ultimate test of commitment.

11:25 AM

Ellen rushes out to show Dubai clients condo in a just-completed building designed by protégée of Zaha Hadid. Rest of country may be endless series of popping real-estate bubbles, but after minor bump, prices in NYC are soaring again.

Not a fan of the zigzaggy neo-Hadid tower myself, which was built on the site of the Chelsea Hotel. In fact, I picketed the site for two days with a sign that read What About Our Cultural Heritage?

“Who cares?” muttered families as they shoved me to the side.

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