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On Sunday, November 11, the Raymond A. Thomas Art Studio hosted the official book launch party for Empire: The House That John H. Johnson Built, five days after its nationwide release. Located in Chicago's "Black Metropolis," also known as the historic Bronzeville neighborhood, the studio is housed in the Bronzeville Artist Lofts, home of Gallery Guichard, the preeminent gallery of art co-owned by Andre Guichard. Raymond A. Thomas designed Empire's cover. He served as art director and creative manager at Johnson Publishing Company--under the direct leadership of its pioneering founder John H. Johnson--for more than two decades where his work appeared on the covers and in the pages of EBONY and JET magazines. Valerie Goodloe, who served as a photographer for EBONY and JET, took pictures for the evening along with Ajuma Muhammad. Check out some recent coverage, including The Chicago Defender, The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education, Richard Prince's Journal-isms, and  WVON 1690 Talk of Chicago (Real Talk Real People with Chatdaddy).


Raymond A. Thomas
Dr. Reginald C. Jackson handled book sales.
Former EBONY/JET photographer Valerie Goodloe.
Psychotherapist and author Ajuma Muhammad not only drove in from St. Louis but helped to capture images for the evening.
Special thanks to David Milliner and his Tequila Paris.
My family drove in from St. Louis and returned on the same day. That's love!!!
Rev. Marrice Coverson
Some members of my forever Johnson Publishing Company family.
Thank you to Art "Chatdaddy" Sims for radio coverage on WVON 1690.