caseAt a Sunday brunch in the security of a garden room, Charles told us about his recent visit to the Oculus. His befuddlement was so profound and his disorientation so total, it showed another Charles than the intrepid, indomitable Charles that would never show leaks, cracks or weaknesses. This is the Charles I would like to know, I thought, the one who is exposed by the Oculus, so I proposed a collaboration called, “Charles Bernstein at the Oculus.” After a while Charles showed interest. Colored words may have been on his mind and the project was a way to explore this kind of poetry for him, I do not know.
Our collaboration was a little bit like a call and response, then, though ultimately the poem was left to his shaping, as was the right thing. When the time came to think about how it would fit in the world, I suggested it look like paper airplanes that have come back after use, strung together, like trout on a string ready to take home and fry.
— Richard Tuttle 11/23/25
Charles Bernstein at the Oculuswas printed in full color on Mohawk Superfine in the summer of 2026 by Puritan Press. Design by Richard Tuttle. Typeset in Matthew Carter’s Galliard and produced by Kyle Schlesinger at the Cuneiform Press in Plainfield, Vermont. This edition is limited to 100 copies signed by Bernstein and Tuttle.
STANDARD EDITION: Ten hand-painted paper airplanes, letter-size unfolded. Housed in 11x6x4 inch plexiglass case. 2026. ISBN: NA
