By now, there are perhaps only a few people who are unaware that this summer in Connecticut is a summerlong recognition of the Coast Guard with New London serving as the epicenter for the celebration.

An official designation by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy signaled the go-ahead for "Connecticut's Coast Guard Summer" to celebrate the Coast Guard's 225th birthday, the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Coast Guard Academy and the planned National Coast Guard Museum in downtown New London.

But behind the scenes, local officials, and even those from other parts of the state, have been working on another designation: officially recognizing New London as a Coast Guard City.

Cities must apply for the designation, at the discretion of the Coast Guard commandant, and show their support of the Coast Guard over a sustained period of time. New London applied last year and is on the list for designation.

After the commandant approves the designation, congressional committees are alerted and a 90-day waiting period begins. If the committees don't disagree, the designation goes through. Cities must reapply every five years.

Sixteen cities currently have the designation, with the latest being Camden County, Ga., in January 2014. Although it's nothing more than a recognition, it's one that many in New London, home to the Coast Guard Academy, would be proud to have.

The city is also home to Coast Guard Station New London, the Coast Guard Research and Development Center, the Marine Safety Lab and the International Ice Patrol.

The summer's celebrations began June 6 with a concert of the Coast Guard Dixieland Jazz Band in New London and the Eastern Point Artisan Craft Show and Fair in Groton.

On Wednesday, an exhibition of Coast Guard paintings opened at University of Connecticut's Alexey von Schlippe Gallery of Art on the Avery Point Campus in Groton.

The exhibit, the first ever of Coast Guard art at the gallery, displays 15 works by 13 artists of the U.S. Coast Guard Art Program.

Julia Pavone, curator/director of the gallery, spent days online sifting through thousands of paintings to pick the 15 that ended up on display.

"It wasn't easy," Pavone said, noting that she looked for paintings that had relevance to the region, and that showed the diverse missions of the Coast Guard.

Several depict the Barque Eagle, including one watercolor painting that beautifully displays the intricacies of Eagle's rigging. There are paintings of the Coast Guard stations on Block Island and Point Judith in Rhode Island. There's one acrylic painting of a crewman on the Cutter Gallatin taking navigation readings, that many mistake for a photograph.

The Coast Guard band will perform an outdoor concert on the lawn of the Branford House, where the gallery is held, on July 16 at 7 p.m. Groton historian Jim Streeter will do a presentation on the history of the Coast Guard Training Station, which was located at Avery Point from World War II through 1967.

New London's annual Sailfest festival, which is scheduled for July 10-12, formally will be dedicated to the Coast Guard, and the Connecticut Maritime Heritage Festival, scheduled for Sept. 10-12, will serve as the finale of the summer-long Coast Guard celebration.

Safe Harbor Brewing Co. will donate $1 to the National Coast Guard Museum Association for every six pack of its 1790 Lager it sells. The 10th annual Fish Tales, Tugs & Sails festival will include exhibits about the Coast Guard.

j.bergman@theday.com

Twitter: @JuliaSBergman