Anita Durst founded chashama (Farsi for "to have vision") with a mission to continue Reza Abdoh's creative spirit after his early death. Durst, along with other principal players of Abdoh’s theater company dar a luz collaborated with approximately 30 other artists for chashama’s original production, "Jr. Black's Office," a multimedia show staged in 27 second-story office windows and broadcast via a pirate radio station to the street below. Due to the success and interest generated by this unique performance space, Anita acquired a storefront property on 42nd Street and incorporated chashama as a not for profit arts organization. Since then, chashama has become a major force in the NYC arts community by supporting the work and ideas of an increasing number of emerging artists every year.