Banned Booty | Whar be me Loot?

You’re late for your flight, and after snaking through the security checkpoint line, you breathlessly toss your shoes, belt, pocket contents and such into a plastic bin to be scanned by the TSA. Too bad you forgot to remove your Swiss Army knife from your keychain, and there’s no time for stepping out of line to try and save the oh-so-handy gadget now. Reluctantly, you surrender it to the TSA agent and sadly bid it farewell. Ever wonder what happens to your stuff after the TSA confiscates them?

September 11, 2001 changed the way the U.S. handles national security, and the process in which passengers are screened at the airport before being permitted to board a flight. Upon seeing photos of all the prohibited objects piling up from TSA security checkpoints, Steve Maloney couldn’t help but wonder about the fate of all this banned booty, either. Auto Europe recently had the opportunity to speak with Steve Maloney about his contemporary artwork exhibit Banned Booty that emerged from a collection of contraband he was able to obtain from the TSA in 2002. Determined to get his hands on some of the security checkpoint seized items, the artist diligently followed up on more than 30 phone calls and several e-mails in communication with the State of California government. Success was finally his, Maloney explains,

He has created several two-dimensional and three-dimensional works in years since triumphantly getting hold of a multitude of mystery boxes, which were chock full of illegal carry-on items. Some of the contents you would likely expect to find, such as knives, lighters, and scissors, but there were other items Maloney discovered that were just plain bizarre. When we asked what the inspiration behind the Banned Booty works was, Maloney said,

Booty Bowler

When you look at the piece Booty Bowler, your eyes can’t help but notice the bowling ball, and before you are able to fully question why this item was confiscated, you spy something that is sticking out of one of its three holes. Maloney explained that when he was beginning this composition, he was drawn to a box of items that held the bowling ball, of course, but he also focused in on a child’s cap gun in another nearby pile. Upon sighting the plastic toy, Maloney reflected,

Sheer Madness

What is the most common item to make up the contents of Maloney’s TSA collection of contraband from 2001? Scissors, scissors and more scissors. We asked if there was a final count of shiny snippers in Shear Madness, a massive mobile of multi-color, plastic-handled cutting instruments painstakingly welded together with aircraft carrier cable, Maloney laughed,

Some of the more unusual items Maloney discovered while rummaging through these treasures include deer antlers, a wok, fur-lined handcuffs and quite a few x-rated butane lighters. Auto Europe couldn’t help but ask if the TSA has commented on the Banned Bootyexhibits. Maloney replied that he has received positive feedback. At Maloney’s most recent installation, TSA Director Shannon Garcia-Hamilton said,

Today, passengers have a much better idea about which objects they can and can’t pack in their carry-on, and it is also now standard to find eBay auctions selling items that have been seized at TSA security checkpoints. Maloney continues to dream up new compositions with his invaluable slice of history. He says that his present projects should keep him pretty busy for the next year,

See the Banned Booty – Palm Springs Checkpoint exhibit at the Palm Springs Air Museum, which is on display until May 31st, 2013. The best way to visit the Banned Booty installation is with a rental car from Auto Europe. Be sure to scope out Steve Maloney’s other exhibits and videos at SteveMaloney.com.

Banned Booty – Palm Springs Checkpoint