in terms of doing art about experience:
experience is a good reference point, a starting point from which to launch discoveries through the art process. it's the beginning because it's what we know and is most visceral. but ultimately, the process should take us beyond our experience. thus, identity, woman, asian american, for example, eventually fall away. we may start talking about our experience as asian americans, but that's not what the art is about - ie. we shouldn't talk about it like we're limited to our identities. it's only an exercize to help us see truths. truths that we will share in our communities.