This costume titled 'Tee Pee' designed by Australian fashion and textile designer Jenny Kee. Kee describes the design as 'a literal tribute to Native Americans and their reverence for Earth. Traditional dwelling personified. Using significant words - Peace - Hope - Liberty - Freedom - Love and Life and the symbols: the eagle, Ohio Mound, Haida hand and ancient maize to create a shimmering, gliding vision' Kee 2002

The costume features a conical 'tee pee' shaped garment with stiffened faux feather collar piece. The garment has enlarged motifs applied to it derived from the 'Americas' textile print. A print designed by Kee for the event. The costume featured on the Americas float in the Arrivals segment of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony and was worn by Bridie O'Neill.

The Opening Ceremony of the 2000 Olympic Games was comprised of three major sections: the mandatory formalities and protocol sections, the cultural display and the entrance of the athletes. Within the cultural display, there were eight segments titled: Welcome, Deep Sea Dreaming, Awakening, Fire, Nature, Tin Symphony, Arrivals and Eternity.

This costume was used in the Arrivals segment of the Opening Ceremony. This segment aimed to produce a theatrical representation of Australia's multiculturalism. The programme for the Olympic Opening Ceremony states: The history of Australia is the history of migration. We have come from all corners of the planet to form a vibrant, culturally rich and constantly evolving society. In this segment, a new group of arrivals form the Olympic symbol that unites the five continents of the world. They disperse, leaving behind their children - our hope for the future. More children appear until two thousand gather to form the pattern of the night sky, containing the distinctive Southern Cross constellation.

The Arrivals segment saw five floats each representing a continent enter the arena. Each float carried performers in costumes inspired by the continent. The colours of the Olympic rings set the costume colours; black for the African nations, yellow for the Asian nations, red for the Americas, green for Europe and blue for Oceania, which includes Australia.

Fashion and film designers rather than theatrical designers were chosen to provide a contemporary, cutting edge, high fashion look to the costumes. The designers were Jenny Kee - Africa and Americas, Lisa Ho - Asia, Norma Moriceau - Europe and Peter Morrissey - Oceania.

Performers were selected from schools, community groups and from cultural and ethnic support groups. Approximately 500 performers danced around and on each of the five floats in the costumes created by the designers.

Jenny Kee (born Sydney 1947) is one of Australia's most significant and creative clothing and textile designers. Kee is best known for designing and retailing a unique range of colourful clothing and knitwear. Her work is characterised by the graphic and dynamic nature of her design style as well as her ability interpret cultural icons in a highly original way.

In the developing the designs for the Americas section Kee collaborated with Creative Consultant Jan Thornley, Costume Artist Paula Martin and team. They applied a rigorous research and design development process to realise the costumes for the Americas float. The diverse cultures and colourful history of the American continent provided inspiration for the costume designs. According to Kee the designs draw "thematic common links between North, South and Central Americas through nature, flora and fauna, art and craft - ancient and modern - symbols and icons. Showing interconnectedness of vibrant cultures - beyond borders. My work is dedicated with respect to the first peoples and present day diverse cultures which have evolved since the discovery of the New World." Kee 2002 Kee's inspiration was taken from a diverse range of iconic elements from the Americas. These include: Mexico Rose - the work of Lichtenstein - Warhol's 'Marilyn' - Bear Crossing - Salsa - Rio - Reggae - Jazz - Miles Davis - Maize - the Amazonian rainforest - toucans - the macaw - the rich rainbow colours of the ancient Mayan world - Route 66 - the maple leaf - the eagle - Navajo - Hopi - Kwakiutl - rock'n'roll - the Ohio Mound and Liberty.

With red as a palette base for the costumes, a colour symbolic to Kee of 'life and energy', Kee developed the 'Americas' textile design by creating a collage of nine of her paintings "I began with a series of paintings to express these thoughts and collaged them into the 'Americas' textile print. Every part of this design is an image of the Americas." Kee 2002 This method is typical of her design style and results in a vibrant and spontaneous explosion of colour and meaning. "From my paintings the costumes came - to express the heart and soul of the Americas" Kee 2002.

The print is used in a wide variety of ways in her designs for the Americas float. The words and motifs appearing on the Tee Pee are derived from this print.

In the words of Kee, Tee Pee is "a literal tribute to Native Americans and their reverence for Earth. Traditional dwelling personified. Using significant words - Peace - Hope - Liberty - Freedom - Love and Life and the symbols: the eagle, Ohio Mound, Haida hand and ancient maize to create a shimmering, gliding vision' Kee 2002

Maker name Paula Martin, Greg Somerville and Chloe Simcox, Ceremonies Workshop.

Worn by Bridie O'Neill.

Presented to the Powerhouse Museum by the Olympic Coordination Authority, on behalf of the NSW Government

Performance costume, 'Tee Pee', fabric/sequins/fibreglass, designed by Jenny Kee, made by Paula Martin, Greg Somerville and Chloe Simcox, Ceremonies Workshop, used in Opening Ceremony of Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

Consists of a tee pee dress/cape, a feather collar with a webbing strap and two eye masks. The tee pee dress/cape is made from hand painted synthetic satin lined with calico. Various stylised native American motives made from sequin mesh fabric of different colours have been appliquÂ?d to the surface of the cape. The imitation feather collar is made from fibreglass rods, nylon organza and nylon tulle red sequin mesh fabric. The collar is built on a harness that goes over the shoulders of the wearer. There are two acrylic jeweled eye masks. One mask is worn over the eyes, the other under the chin of the wearer.

Made: 2000

2001/84/195

2000