McKenna Aiello | Uptown News

The Reuben H. Fleet Science Center and the award-winning “World Champion of Magic,” Jason Latimer, have joined forces to produce the newest magic show to hit Balboa Park, “Perception: See Beyond the Illusion.”

But this mind-bending experience has more in store for audiences than just card tricks and pulling rabbits out of a hat — Latimer says magic and science are put into action as he shapes water, bends light and walks through solid objects.

The show, which hits the only IMAX Dome theater in Southern California on July 5, is a culmination of the illusionist’s greatest acts and a reflection of how he perceives the world.

“This show is a great way to inspire creativity and think beyond your answers,” Latimer said. “All of the effects in the show were thought to be impossible at one time. They were just impossible ideas with no solution and yet they came to life because one person decided to wonder beyond their answers.”

Latimer has always tried to defy what others deem impossible, though. From an early age, Latimer, now 33, was fascinated by the art of magic and the prospect of expanding the minds of his audience. By the time he turned 18-years-old, Latimer had headlined at Hollywood’s famous Magic Castle and opened for “The Amazing Johnathan Show” in Las Vegas, two endeavors catapulting Latimer into the magic industry.

But it wasn’t until Latimer received degrees in applied physics, mathematics, economics from UC Santa Barbra, as well as recognition for his work in perceptual psychology, that he entered a league of his own in the industry. Since then, Latimer’s research and work has ushered in a new era of magic and earned him seventeen consecutive championship titles, including “The Grand Prix ‘Best Overall’ World Champion of Magic.”

“I tend to bring all of [the applied sciences] into my live shows, but that’s mainly because I go after illusions that don’t exist,” Latimer said. “I don’t do the sawing a woman in half effect … sorry if people want to see that one. But I did take almost six years researching surface tension in my spare time to shape water into an object so I can hand it to someone and then let it pop back into water.”

Latimer said he never wants to trick people with his performances, but rather “inspire wonder” as a tool to learn more about the undiscovered.

“I like to think wonder is the only thing that changes the world,” Latimer said. “Today we can find the center of the universe just as fast we can find the closest Starbucks so I always think about, ‘where is the wonder in the age of information?’ That’s why I created ‘Perception.’”

The process of creating “Perception” has been far from a walk in the park for Latimer. The process of reconstructing a theater never previously used for live shows and collaborating with an extensive team of graphic artists, engineers and media producers proved trying, but Latimer says the end result is a “visual blowout.”

“Once we had the new stage, I really had to think about what effects fit physically in the show just as much as which effects would help deliver the message of the show,” Latimer said. “I also created a few [illusions] specifically for this show because of the size, content and I wanted to integrate dome projection. It all came together beautifully.”

In addition to the show, visitors will also be able to explore the adjoining exhibition, “Illusion: Nothing Is As It Seems,” a similar experience to “Perception” that combines science and art through optical, perceptual and audio illusions.

“‘Perception’ reminds us that the world wasn’t shaped by its answers; it was shaped by its questions,” Latimer said. “It points out the value of wonder and really inspires people to believe in ideas more than facts. Our facts change because our senses lie. The ‘Illusion’ exhibit and ‘Perception’ remind us to never stop questioning.”

“Perception: See Beyond the Illusion” opens July 5 and runs through August 31 with two shows every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.

“Illusion: Nothing Is As It Seems” is on view at the Fleet Science Center through January 2015. For tickets, visit rhfleet.org.u