Monster Mash: Obama celebrates Kennedy Center Honors; ‘Spider-Man’ actress injured

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Executive presence: President Obama presided over the Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday, which recognized Broadway composer Jerry Herman, dancer and choreographer Bill T. Jones, Oprah Winfrey, Paul McCartney and country singer Merle Haggard. (Los Angeles Times)

Accident: Actress Natalie Mendoza is recovering from a concussion she sustained last week when equipment fell on her head during a performance of ‘Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark’ on Broadway. (Wall Street Journal)

Sense of humor: Steve Martin has penned an editorial about the 92nd Street Y’s decision to offer an audience refund after a recent talk featuring the actor-comedian. (New York Times)

Smelly: A replica of the Venus de Milo statue made from panda dung has been purchased for approximately $45,000 by an art collector. (Agence France-Presse)

Speaking out: The Assn. of Art Museum Directors has issued a rebuke to the Smithsonian Institution and the National Portrait Gallery in Washington for censoring a work of art included in the exhibition ‘Hide/Seek.’ (Los Angeles Times)

Controversial moves: A look into the Philadelphia History Museum’s decision to sell off more than 2,000 items in the last few years. (New York Times)

Money problems: The Louisville Orchestra in Kentucky has filed for bankruptcy. (Lexington Herald-Leader)

Favorable odds: Glasgow-born Susan Philipsz is considered by bookies to be the favorite to win this year’s Turner Prize. (BBC News)

Also in the L.A. Times: Art critic Christopher Knight on the Smithsonian Institution’s failure to stand up to what he says are anti-gay bullies; Knight on the Getty’s new exhibit, ‘Imagining the Past in France’; theater critic Charles McNulty on the Wooster Group’s ‘Vieux Carré’ at REDCAT; the Los Angeles Ballet turns 5 years old.

-- David Ng