Monster Mash: Taggers leave their mark ahead of MOCA show; Ai Weiwei supporters plan protest

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There goes the neighborhood: Graffiti vandalism has hit the area surrounding the Geffen Contemporary in downtown L.A. ahead of the big opening of MOCA’s street-art exhibition. (Los Angeles Times)

Sending a message: Supporters of Ai Weiwei are organizing a peaceful sit-down demonstration Sunday as a show of solidarity for the artist who has been detained by Chinese officials. (Los Angeles Times)

Upset: Musicians of the Philadelphia Orchestra have publicly expressed their opposition to a possible declaration of bankruptcy by the music group. (ABC 7 News)

Leading man: Samuel L. Jackson will star in the upcoming Broadway production of ‘The Mountaintop’ by Katori Hall, but Halle Berry won’t. (Los Angeles Times)

Last chance: This is the last weekend to see Julie Taymor’s version of ‘Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark’ before the Broadway musical goes on hiatus starting Tuesday to implement major revisions. (New York Times)

Lineup: London’s Royal Opera House has announced its 2011-12 season, which will include a special concert with Plácido Domingo. (The Telegraph)

Honored: The shortlist for the 2011 BP Portrait Award has been announced. (The Guardian)

Art and money: Russia has launched its first major private art fund on the Moscow stock exchange this week. (Reuters)

Also in the L.A. Times: Theater critic Charles McNulty reviews ‘God of Carnage’ by Yasmina Reza at the Ahmanson Theatre.

-- David Ng