If a person comes to America as an adult, he or she is referred to as a first-generation immigrant. Children of immigrants are called second generation. But, if they come when they are in their adolescence, they are called generation 1.5. The 1.5 generation is a group of people who are not children and not yet adults, literate but not yet fully intellectually formed. 1.5 members are old enough to be fluent in their home language and culture, but have less difficulty adjusting to change than their first-generation counterparts. Often characterized by cultural hybridity, 1.5ers navigate various cultural perspectives from the inside, while often feeling un-tethered to any one homeland.

Artists of this generation take part in dexterous manipulations of artistic modes and materials as they engage with diverse personal, social, and intellectual contexts. Along with their freedom of movement, these artists enjoy an ability to walk the line between assimilation and dissent and are uniquely capable of critiquing their native country as well as their adopted ones. 1.5, on view at the Queens Museum of Art from June 10th – December 2nd, 2007, is an exhibition that highlights the work of these artists. The exhibition examines whether artists of the 1.5 generation propose a particular orientation to their work as they are confronted by issues of immigration, cultural dislocation, memory, hybridity, acceptance, and exile in their everyday lives. 1.5 includes stirring and thought-provoking works produced by eight artists—including works never before exhibited in New York.

Excerpt from Exhibition Catalog: Interview with Matthea Harvey
Excerpt from Exhibition Catalog: Essay by Valerie Smith
Exhibition Catalog Available